In a league where stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden are still putting up legendary numbers, it is difficult to get your name out there. Therefore, this list serves as a testament to the players who are on it, for their hard work, dedication, and absolute talent on the court, to be recognized as some of the best in the country, even at their young ages.
The players on this list are expected to grow into the new faces of the NBA and the franchise players on their respective teams. Of course, barring any transfers, some of these players are already considered franchise players, but for those who aren’t it is expected that they will grow into these roles. The following are some of the best up-and-coming talents in the NBA.
Jordan Poole, 22, Golden State Warriors
The rise of Jordan Poole over the last season or so has been tremendous. Many people wrote him off after his rather lacklustre debut season, but year on year he has been improving and is most certainly a candidate for Most Improved Player in 2022. Training under the tutelage of players Stephen Curry surely doesn’t hurt and he is slowly turning into one of the most important players on the Warriors.
Tyler Herro, 22, Miami Heat
Whether Herro is considered a super-sub or not, it’s almost impossible to dispute the talent in the kid. He has been in scintillating form throughout the last two seasons and regardless of his recent all-star snub, he’s got an extremely bright future in the sport. He has the star power along with the talent to become one of the biggest faces in the NBA in upcoming years.
LaMelo Ball, 20, Charlotte Hornets
Being the youngest player on this list is a sheer showcase and acknowledgment of the skill and performance levels of LaMelo Ball. The last time we saw a player break into the league with this much pace was LeBron James back in the early 2000s. A kid of his age should not be breaking ankles on the court at the rate LaMelo is, and if he continues at this pace he could be one of the best the league has ever seen.
Luka Doncic, 23, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic, at age 23, is officially one of the best players in the NBA already. He has composure, star power, play-off performances, and age all on his side. He has the blessing of players like Giannis, Curry, and LeBron already and he is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Ironically Doncic is not American, but he has taken the country by storm, quickly becoming a lot of fans’ favourite players. The Mavericks should do all they can to keep him on the books for as long as possible.
There are obviously many other young players who are showcasing their talents on a weekly basis, but these four players are showing consistency as well as talent on the biggest stage already. When you’re not playing at Rush Casino, be sure to keep an eye out for them in the future.