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ESPN’s top 25 players under 25
(Rankings based on future potential)

1) Luka Doncic
2) Zion Williamson
3) LaMelo Ball
4) Donovan Mitchell
5) Jayson Tatum
6) De’Aaron Fox
7) Ben Simmons
8) Devin Booker
9) Bam Adebayo
10) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

11 Brandon Ingram
12 Jaylen Brown
13 Jamal Murray
14 Michael Porter Jr
15 Ja Morant
16 Trae Young
17 Mikal Bridges
18 Dom Sabonis
19 Anthony Edwards
20 Deandre Ayton

21 Tyrese Haliburton
22 John Collins
23 Jarrett Allen
24 Lonzo Ball
25 Colin Sexton

Not posting full article just the rankings

The list was voted by Bobby Marks former NBA GM, Kevin Pelton ESPN Lead Analytics guy, & Mike Schmitz Draft Express Founder

3. LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
G

Age: 19.6

Prior to breaking his wrist, Ball was posting historic numbers for a 19-year-old, and the ease with which he was dissecting NBA defenses stood out even more than the production.

Given his positional size, supernatural vision, elite instincts, creativity, touch and unwavering confidence, Ball has as much long-term upside as anyone in the NBA not named Zion or Luka.

What makes him special can't be taught, and the late-bloomer will likely become even more of a problem for defenses as he matures physically.

I couldn't care less about their opinions. Give me the Antman.

UnFadeable21 wrote:The list was voted by Bobby Marks former NBA GM, Kevin Pelton ESPN Lead Analytics guy, & Mike Schmitz Draft Express Founder

Malik Beasley(24) is not a fan of these dufuses.

Reminds me of just hearing some actual Timberwolves talk the other day on the radio and they went on and on about Town's recent performance but then talked about how he's not getting any allstar bids any time soon because the team isn't winning anything anytime soon regardless of what they are doing.

This team needs to start getting serious about competing. It helps no one to dump seasons and collecting 15 top prior picks from your draft and trades over 10 years just isn't enough. You have to build a team, show up enough to play games and compete.

UnFadeable21 wrote:3. LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
G

Age: 19.6

Prior to breaking his wrist, Ball was posting historic numbers for a 19-year-old, and the ease with which he was dissecting NBA defenses stood out even more than the production.

Given his positional size, supernatural vision, elite instincts, creativity, touch and unwavering confidence, Ball has as much long-term upside as anyone in the NBA not named Zion or Luka.

What makes him special can't be taught, and the late-bloomer will likely become even more of a problem for defenses as he matures physically.

They called him a late bloomer... because of his height growth came later than 16? He's only 19. But you know you are reading highly accurate intel and not just hype when they use words like "supernatural".

UnFadeable21 wrote:3. LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
G

Age: 19.6

Prior to breaking his wrist, Ball was posting historic numbers for a 19-year-old, and the ease with which he was dissecting NBA defenses stood out even more than the production.

Given his positional size, supernatural vision, elite instincts, creativity, touch and unwavering confidence, Ball has as much long-term upside as anyone in the NBA not named Zion or Luka.

What makes him special can't be taught, and the late-bloomer will likely become even more of a problem for defenses as he matures physically.

This is just a snapshot in time, but Ball at 3 is an overstate. That's not to say that I don't think Ball could climb higher, he's got a high ceiling. However, if we're just going based on ceilings than Ant should be in front of Donovan Mitchell. Based on what we know now, I'd put him behind Booker.

The only other really weird one is that not that Bridges is bad, but he shouldn't be ahead of Sabonis or Ant and probably not Ayton/Haliburton. Maybe Ayton for positional value.

Ball at 3 maybe a tad too high but not by a lot. He’s a 6’8” Trae Young. That’s an absolute superstar.

Doesn’t mean Edwards is going to be bad. Just, at the moment, he’s trailing Ball.

This list will look laughable in 2-3 years.

KGdaBom wrote:I couldn't care less about their opinions. Give me the Antman.

Yea Baby!! Damn Right!

Good to see you back.

No Wiseman???

Calinks wrote:No Wiseman???

Touche'!

Reading the Ball scout I only can think in one thing, they have injured their knees

Lol

Calinks wrote:No Wiseman???

Is he better than anyone listed? I dont think so

TheZachAttack wrote:

UnFadeable21 wrote:3. LaMelo Ball
Charlotte Hornets
G

Age: 19.6

Prior to breaking his wrist, Ball was posting historic numbers for a 19-year-old, and the ease with which he was dissecting NBA defenses stood out even more than the production.

Given his positional size, supernatural vision, elite instincts, creativity, touch and unwavering confidence, Ball has as much long-term upside as anyone in the NBA not named Zion or Luka.

What makes him special can't be taught, and the late-bloomer will likely become even more of a problem for defenses as he matures physically.

This is just a snapshot in time, but Ball at 3 is an overstate. That's not to say that I don't think Ball could climb higher, he's got a high ceiling. However, if we're just going based on ceilings than Ant should be in front of Donovan Mitchell. Based on what we know now, I'd put him behind Booker.

Miles Bridges has some positional value, but I don’t think he belongs anywhere on this list.

The only other really weird one is that not that Bridges is bad, but he shouldn't be ahead of Sabonis or Ant and probably not Ayton/Haliburton. Maybe Ayton for positional value.

I agree, and those were the two players that really stood out to me.

Is there a 50/50 chance that Ball becomes a better player than say, Jayson Tatum is now? I doubt it. Nice debut, but let’s give the NBA some time to get game film on you.

I also agree Wiseman doesn’t belong on this list.

You can tell a charlotte homer had a big say in this “list”.

_AIJ_ wrote:

Calinks wrote:No Wiseman???

Is he better than anyone listed? I dont think so

This is supposed to be based on Potential. I still love Wiseman's potential.

KGdaBom wrote:

_AIJ_ wrote:

Calinks wrote:No Wiseman???

Is he better than anyone listed? I dont think so

This is supposed to be based on Potential. I still love Wiseman's potential.

Sure... but if you're starting 3 or 4 steps behind other guys who've already proven they're getting better...