The Top 25 NBA Players Under The Age of 25: #5 - #1
Posted by Matt McCready on 07.18.2007
The conclusion of Matt McCready's Top 25 NBA Players under the age of 25. With Carmelo Anthony not even cracking the top 5, see which players will dominate the NBA over the next decade!
How the players are ranked:To determine the ranking of the players on this list they are evaluated equally on their performance last year and their overall potential level. For example, while Andrea Bargnani is ranked highly on potential he also had the worst season on the list last year and is graded justly. On the other hand, Gerald Wallace had a terrific season last year but the combination of his age, league experience and injury history causes his potential score to be amongst the lowest. Finally, players have to be UNDER the age of 25 and completed a season of play in the league so no Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.
Finally after plenty of debate and intrigue the final five players are presented. I received many emails and a few figured out who the five would be. Congratulations. Here's how the list has played out so far.
If everything goes right he could be the next… Jason Kidd
Upon entering the league
It came as a shock to many when Deron Williams was selected by the Utah Jazz in front of the highly regarded Chris Paul in the 2005 NBA Draft. The scrutiny over that selection intensified as Paul had the best rookie season by a point guard in a decade while Williams struggled to find minutes and was frequently benched by Utah coach Jerry Sloan. Deron started to show signs that he would be something special as he learned Sloan's system and gained his trust.
Out of the 125 sportswriters who voted for the rookie of the year award, only one voted for Deron. It was Ron Boone who has worked as the Jazz' primary broadcast analyst for more than a decade. No one accused Boone of homerism more than I, but it turns out he might have actually made the right call after all.
Why he's so good
He's as clutch as it gets. If you look at his first playoff run of his career from the past year you would notice that he increased his production with every passing series, culminating at the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio where he dominated the San Antonio Spurs' championship quality defense and eventual finals MVP Tony Parker to the tune of 26 points per game and 8 assists.
His defense is superb. Deron has the quickness to keep up with the speediest in the league (like the aforementioned Parker) while also having the bulk and strength to deal with the bigger points in the league like Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups. Offensively he's a complete player as well. Deron has range out to the three point line, the ability to drive the lane and exceptional court vision. Not only does he possess all of these traits but also the knowledge on when to do what. Jerry Sloan has taught him well.
Overall: Deron's versatility on both offense and defense put him into his own class among young point guards, he has the skills and physical advantages needed to be the best point guard in the league someday.
If everything goes right he could be the next… Shaquille O' Neal
Upon entering the league
Dwight Howard was the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA draft. With the debate swirling over whether the Magic would select the high school phenom Dwight or the sure thing (outside of a minor back injury issue) Emeka Okafor, the Magic decided to aim high and select the man with the most potential, albeit the one that would be the furthest away from contributing. Orlando superstar Tracy McGrady, was so outraged over the team's selection of Howard (as opposed to Okafor or, better yet, trading the pick) that he requested to be traded. Sometimes Tracy is as shortsighted as he is lazy-eyed.
Why he's so good
Dwight Howard will always have the distinction of being the last high school player selected first overall in the NBA Draft. He might also go down as the best and that includes LeBron.
Dwight is the biggest freak of nature the league has seen since Shaq. His upper body looked nearly comical at the Olympics when he was matched against the best bigs around the world and he got even bigger throughout the NBA season. He's got a perfect frame for a center. When debating who is the best rebounder in the NBA, it would have to begin with him and Kevin Garnett. Dwight is an absolute beast on the boards. He uses his broad shoulders, endless strength and incredible vertical to grab every miss around the Orlando basket. While he has the strength to box out any opposing big man, he also has the quickness to not be exploited by the small ball playing teams in the NBA. He is truly an athletic freak of nature.
Dwight Howard is a natural freak of nature. Unlike Scott Steiner (shown here in Cabbage Patch Kid form).
Why he'll get even better
Dwight's skillset might be the worst on this list outside of Tyson Chandler. He turns the ball over way too much, doesn't pass out of the double team too well and has an ugly looking jumper. For some reason, his free throw percentage has actually decreased since entering the league. If he improves in this area (and doesn't spend his offseasons attempting to rap or programming Shaq-Fu) he'll be unstoppable.
Overall:Dwight has as much basketball potential as anyone in the world. The sky is the limit and he seems to have the personality to reach it.
3. Chris Bosh PF/C, Toronto Raptors
Bosh has added a swagger since entering the league. He still looks like LittleFoot.
If everything goes right he could be the next… Tim Duncan/Kevin Garnett
Upon entering the league
Chris Bosh was the forth player selected in the 2003 NBA Draft. At the time it was a draft considered by most to only be three players deep (LeBron James, Darko Milicic and Carmelo Anthony) with a significant drop-off afterwards. Now that draft is considered one of the deepest in history and Bosh is a big reason for that.
After dominating Texas High School basketball Bosh attended Georgia Tech where he enjoyed modest success. Despite it being labeled as a ‘three man draft' Bosh was actually higher regarded than Carmelo Anthony by some throughout the NCAA season. Melo's phenomenal NCAA tournament run put an end to that debate and Bosh slipped to forth, one selection above Dwyane Wade (who, by the way, is too old to be considered for this list).
Why he's so good
Bosh is a formidable offensive force. There isn't player in the world that can combine his quickness and size. Bosh has improved his ball handling skills considerably and his quickness allows him to blow up defenders and when they attempt to play him for the drive he uses his silky jumpshot to make them pay. He doesn't score on the low-post as much as one would expect but showcases some nice moves (when he isn't aggressively double teamed) and occasionally utilizes an effective bank shot. He rarely uses it (mainly because it's redundant with Andrea Bargnani in the lineup) but Bosh actually has a respectable three pointer, hitting 35 percent of his attempts last year.
Why he'll get even better
Bosh is a good shot blocker. He averaged 1.3 during the regular season and nearly two a game in the postseason but he could still improve a lot. One of the reasons that Bosh doesn't block as many shots as you would expect someone with his length and quickness would is that the Raptors are such a terrible rebounding team he has to establish position for rebounds on nearly every possession. Perhaps the thing keeping Bosh from having Kevin Garnett like numbers is his intensity. Then again - in making the first round of the playoffs - a Chris Bosh led squad has already matched what a Kevin Garnett led squad has done in all but one season in his twelve year career.
Overall: Bosh has proven he belongs with LeBron, Wade and Carmelo as the best of the 2003 draft. Him and Andrea Bargnani comprise the best young big man duo in pro basketball.
2. Amare Stoudamire C/PF, Phoenix Suns
While most players would have to make a deal with Satan for basketball skills like his, Amare went with a more gentle route.
If everything goes right he could be the next… Moses Malone Puppet Rock Star Equivalent... Dr. Teeth
Why he's so good
Amare Stoudamire's offensive instincts, world class athleticism and will to score make him possibly the most unstoppable threat around the basket today. He relishes attention and he knows that the best way to receive that attention is to score (much to the chagrin of his ugly step-sister teammate Shawn Marion). Stoudamire does not hesitate when attacking the basket and does so with a ferocity that makes opposing players debate whether to even challenge his shot, lest they end up on a poster. His package of strength, quickness, finish and size is unmatched and that allows him to attack the rim against even the biggest of defenders.
Why he'll get even better
Considering how impressive he was upon returning from career threatening knee surgery, there's optimism that he could be even better in upcoming years. Amare's interior game got even scarier since a bit of range was added to his offense. His jumpshot has steadily improved since he entered the league which means that defenders have to close in on him even further away from the basket. Further range would allow Amare to exploit his quickness advantage and attack the rim with even greater ease.
Defensively, Amare could still improve. His shot blocking is mediocre for a player of his size and agility while his defensive attentiveness could use some work
Overall: If his knee holds up he'll be a top three center over the next ten years.
1. LeBron James SF/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James is such a big worldwide celebrity that he guest starred on the SIMPSONS! That's right, his name is alongside legends like Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Gilbert, Luke Perry, Michael Buffer, Alex Trebeck, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bono, Kathie Lee Gifford, Tom Arnold and Lucy Lawless.
Truly he's arrived.
If everything goes right he could be the next… Ummm, a 6-8 Oscar Robinson? A superior Magic Johnson? A player that actually fits Mike James' self image?
Upon entering the league
LeBron James might go down as the most hyped high school player of all time. Whether it be his prep squad games being broadcast to a national audience or receiving a 90 million dollar shoe deal from Nike as a pleasant high school graduation gift.
A funny thing happened on draft lottery night to determine the team which would win the number one pick and be able to select James. Jerry West, the general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, attended as his team's representative and his pick belonged to the Detroit Pistons but was protected if the Griz won the entire draft. The lottery began and teams were picked off one by one until the final two were Memphis and the Cavaliers. The stars aligned on draft night and Cleveland won the lottery, allowing James to join his hometown team. West's face was priceless. He went from having a franchise saving player to absolutely nothing. Oh, and the player acquired for that selection? Otis Thorpe. The trade was made seven years prior and Thorpe played less than 50 games with Memphis (then Vancouver).
Weirdly enough, the Pistons used the pick to select bust Darko Milicic. Milicic was later traded to the Orlando Magic in a (failed) attempt to clear cap space to sign Ben Wallace. Recently, Orlando released Milicic to (again) obtain enough cap room to sign Rashard Lewis and Darko signed with Memphis. Completing a circle of life even Elton John would shrug at.
Why he's so good
If LeBron James was seven feet tall he'd be the ideal basketball player. Regardless it's unfair that a player with his phenomenal athleticism, ball handling and court vision.
Why he'll get even better
It's debatable on whether he can get much better. He will though. He has a habit of doing the impossible. Really the thing he could improve on the most is his shooting. He's a good shooter but not a great one. It's frightening how good he could be if he had a real point guard to work with and not Eric Snow (Daniel Gibson has the mentality of a shooting guard as that's what I'll label him as).
Overall: Sorry for the brevity of this profile, but what really needs to be said about LeBron James that already hasn't been said. Forget the future, he's already possibly the best player in the league.
Thanks for reading. Please continue to send feedback to mattmccready@gmail.com
Next week I'll be writing a column with feedback from readers and also discussing which NBA teams are posed for the greatest success over the next five years.
