The 10 best young players in the NBA

The NBA is a bottomless treasure trove of diamonds. Every time the supply of gems seems to run out, new ones appear. And it has been this way since its inception.

Let’s go in search of the superstars of tomorrow (and, in some cases, today). Here are our criteria, listed in order of importance: talent, performance, responsibility and potential.

The golden rule of this Top 10 : only players born after 1 January 2001 are eligible.

10) Cooper Flagg : While the top nine picks stood out from the competition, the tenth spot was particularly hotly contested. Franz Wagner, Chet Holmgren, LaMelo Ball, Victor Wembanyama (just kidding)… All of these names could have legitimately claimed the first pick. But in the end, we settled on the first and only rookie on the list: Cooper Flagg. The reason? Talent is our most important criterion. And despite the fact that a small point guard in Charlotte dazzles us when he’s on the court, in less than six months, this 19-year-old has fully embraced his status as the ‘next LeBron’. Expectations were extremely high for him. However, his first steps with a struggling Dallas Mavericks team dampened everyone’s enthusiasm. It was ultimately in the shadow of a rocky start to the season that the forward exploded, scoring 42 points against the Jazz in December – a record for an 18-year-old player. Apart from his long-range shooting, which still needs work, the number one pick in the 2025 Draft is racking up performances of more than 20 points and 5 rebounds. On the other side of the court, opposing centres are already having nightmares about him. However, his talent and potential do not compensate for the gap that separates him from the rest of the competition.

9) Evan Mobley : Last year, everyone thought Evan Mobley was going to take the Eastern Conference by storm. We knew about the defensive qualities of the 2025 DPOY. It was more on the offensive side where his excellent consistency with the Cavaliers suggested he was capable of playing at an All-Star Game level. However, this year he won’t even be on the bench for the All-Star Game. Mind you, his stats are far from having dropped (he is still our ninth player). However, most of them have declined, unlike his playing time… and it shows on the court. In fact, the volume is clearly there. There is a Cleveland with and without Evan Mobley on the court. But his efficiency is far too low. This is also reflected in the team’s overall record. So the question arises: does he have what it takes to be a leader, or even a true franchise player? This stagnation has pushed him down to ninth place in our rankings. The potential is there, but now we need to see if he can take on greater responsibilities.

8) Jalen Johnson : Less than two years ago, Jalen Johnson was plagued by physical problems. Today, he is an All-Star calibre player, leader of his franchise and, above all, number 8 in our Top 10. It would be difficult to imagine a bigger rise. In 2025, the first signs of his XXL season were beginning to show. A formidable defender, the power forward came very close to winning the DPOY award. But the progress he has made since the start of this campaign has been enormous. His performances have been so impressive that the Hawks decided to trade Trae Young in order to build a team around him. To describe him as a future franchise player at this stage would be a slight exaggeration. However, the centre clearly has what it takes to be the second option on a team aiming for the title. Jalen Johnson is turning into an elite Swiss Army knife because he can do almost anything. Attacking the Wisconsin native has become one of the worst chores for any player in the big league. His reading of the game allows him to rack up assists and steals… but also to score! It is now common to see him string together weeks – even entire months – averaging triple-doubles with more than 25 points. His teammates even entrust him with the keys to the truck, regularly letting him bring the ball up the court or organise the play like a point guard. However, this sudden rise comes with its share of uncertainties: How will he perform in the long run ? Has he reached his ceiling ? How will he react when opponents adapt ? And in the playoffs ? A barrage of questions that prevent him from moving forward.

7) Scottie Barnes : In the small market that is Toronto, Scottie Barnes had fallen into obscurity in recent times. Like his team, the power forward was stagnating without showing any signs of rebellion amid the Canadian slump. Then Darko Rajaković arrived, as did Brandon Ingram. The result: this so-called difficult season has been transformed into a popcorn season. Because yes, this team is surely the one that gives us the most enjoyment in the East. And Scottie Barnes has a lot to do with that. Much like Jalen Johnson, the general public knew about his quality without the ball, enhanced by the Raptors’ powerful and ultra-aggressive style. The notable difference with the previous two campaigns is with the ball. The 2026 All-Star has found the keys to further improving his particularly effective game. Whether it’s 2-pointers, 3-pointers or free throws, he is currently achieving his best career percentages. All this is accompanied by more initiative, in line with what Toronto is offering. His mastery of the fundamentals makes him the perfect player to rack up wins. However, the question remains the same with him. It’s hard to imagine him as a franchise player. And in this little game of ‘second option’, our number 6 won an NBA title.

6) Jalen Williams : 40 points in the NBA Finals! This statistic alone reflects the talent of Jalen Williams… as well as that of Sam Presti. Because it took a keen eye to spot the potential of this young man, who was drafted in 12th position. A member of the Top 3 of the 2025 NBA champions alongside SGA and Chet Holmgren, the former Santa Clara player was THE X factor for OKC during their legendary run. Without such a high level of play – especially in the final series – the Thunder would surely have lost to the increasingly impressive Pacers. In his position, he is now one of the very best. The versatile swingman is particularly formidable from mid-range, capable of sinking fadeaways and pull-ups or finishing powerfully in the midst of an army of hands. From the outside, his percentages are also far from ridiculous. His physicality combined with his athleticism also allows him to handle a wide variety of match-ups. This explains his presence on the 2025 All-Defensive Second Team. The talent is there, as are the performances. But the question remains: can he take on the mantle of franchise player ? For now, the answer is no, as he plays in the shadow of the reigning MVP. It is precisely this criterion that separates the Top 5 from the second half of this ranking.

5) Paolo Banchero : The former number one draft pick ahead of Chet Holmgren is as impressive as he is divisive. There are two schools of thought about him. On one side are those who support him. Those who remain amazed by his latest playoff campaign, where he was clearly one of the best players in the first round, despite Orlando’s elimination. Those who see him as a physical monster, a true franchise player whose athletic abilities will allow him to dominate the league in a few years. And then there is the other, much more pessimistic view of him. Yes, Paolo Banchero knows how to turn into a scorer. But at what cost? His shooting percentages remain particularly low, which forces him to take a lot of shots, even to hog every possession at the expense of overall efficiency. This impression is reinforced by his first half of the season, which has fallen far short of expectations. Like Evan Mobley, his statistics remain impressive. But where it hurts is in terms of visual impression and collective results. Paolo Banchero currently has the worst percentages of his young career, while the Magic languish at the bottom of the play-in. Worse still, his team has a better record without him! Although his trajectory is experiencing some turbulence, he is currently the only player in this ranking to have shown that he can take on the role of first option in the playoffs. His current form prevents him from aiming higher. But his talent, potential and floor level place him just above Jalen Williams, Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson.

4) Alperen Sengun 🍫 : The obvious successor to Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun is the archetype of the modern centre. Except perhaps for his long-range shooting, the Turkish giant can literally do everything on the court. Creating opportunities for others is no problem for him thanks to his passing skills. The same goes for scoring. Whether in the mid-range or under the basket, he can score from all four corners of the paint with ease. More generally, he is a walking brain, whose intelligence combined with his speed of execution makes him unstoppable in 1v1 situations. These qualities also give him a defensive foundation that is far from ridiculous. Since October, he has assumed his status as the cornerstone of an ambitious franchise. The Rockets are firmly entrenched in the Top 5 and his partnership with Kevin Durant promises to be devastating in the playoffs. What’s more, this season he is on track to become the ninth player to average at least 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a single season. That list includes such names as Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird. Apart from Victor Wembanyama (and Cooper Flagg, who is debatable), Alperen Sengun surely has the highest ceiling of this Top 10. Ahead of him, however, are some big franchise players of All-Star calibre.

3) Cade Cunningham 🥉 : Patience has paid off for Detroit. After years of hard work, the franchise is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember: just two seasons ago, the Pistons became the worst team in NBA history by achieving the feat of racking up 28 consecutive defeats. In the meantime, players such as Jalen Duren have emerged, the system has been put in place, and the promises made about the number one draft pick have finally materialised. Finally, a small correction. Cade Cunningham has completely shattered the ceiling that had been set for him, namely that of a talented point guard but one incapable of leading a franchise to victory. Since then, the Detroit Pistons have been sitting atop the Eastern Conference… by a wide margin. This particularly solid team benefits from being led by a virtuoso to win again and again. Standing at 6’6″, the Oklahoma State Cowboy impresses both physically and in his game management. He has all the characteristics of the perfect point guard and manages to maintain them even in May. Cade Cunningham oozes basketball. Watching him play, you’d think he was 30 years old and had been through multiple playoff campaigns. Yet he has only experienced one so far. One can imagine that with an increasingly strong squad, the Texan would blow everything out of his way. But that’s just speculation, unlike the runner-up in our ranking.

2) Anthony Edwards 🥈 : the standard-bearer for the next generation of American basketball, the leader of the most consistent franchise of the last two seasons, and the new superstar of the sport (among mere mortals). Anthony Edwards is undoubtedly our runner-up. There is one argument for this choice: he is the only player in the entire Top 10 to have carried his franchise to the Western Conference Finals twice. And here, the word ‘carried’ is very important. Because during that period, the Wolves were far from having the best roster in their half of the bracket. SGA’s OKC, Jokic’s Nuggets, Curry’s Warriors, Kawhi’s Clippers, Luka’s MAVS, LeBron’s Lakers… It’s not like in the East, where upsets are omnipresent. No, what Ant-Man did, particularly in the 2024-2025 post-season, was MVP-level. The Atlanta native seems to be following this editorial line of excellence to the letter once again. Not only does he continue to be an explosive slasher with athletic qualities worthy of Jordan’s heyday, but he has also improved his decision-making and currently has one of the best outside shots in the league. When he puts on his big-game jersey, he becomes almost unstoppable. The only area for improvement is undoubtedly his transition to point guard. Given the Timberwolves’ inactivity in the guard market, Anthony Edwards seems to be increasingly categorised internally as a playmaker. It is now up to him to show that he is capable of this, particularly by making more passes. Ultimately, Ant-Man ranks first among the best young basketball players in the Major League. It’s just that ahead of him is not a human… but an alien !

1) Victor Wembanyama 🥇 : His name alone is enough to justify our choice. The second youngest player in this ranking behind Cooper Flagg nevertheless sits in first place. And by a looooooong way. The UFO, as he is known, has it all : extraordinary height, impressive physique, a hard-working attitude, offensive talent, game intelligence… He simply isn’t playing in the same league as his peers. The question with him isn’t whether he’s the best young player or the best defender in the NBA. Rather, it’s where he ranks among the best basketball players on the planet. To fully understand his performance across the Atlantic, you have to realise the pressure he had on his shoulders. It’s difficult to put into words. Imagine that at just 18 years old, everyone is tipping you to be the GOAT alongside LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Imagine Magic publicly saying that you are THE best player in the world while you’re still playing for Levallois. Or even that The King himself says he’s impressed by the player. It’s huge. However, the pressure seems to have had no effect on him. First, he had one of the best rookie seasons in league history. He also became the youngest player to be named to the 1st All-Defensive Team and came close to winning the DPOY title. Admittedly, a venous thrombosis brought his sophomore season to an abrupt end. But after a somewhat unusual training camp in China, he destroyed everything in his path during his third season. Individually, it was incredible, but collectively too. As we speak, the Spurs are the second-strongest team in the West and the nemesis of the reigning NBA champions. And the icing on the cake: Victor has become fierce, ready to do battle !