The 5 Most Exciting NBA Players Aged 23 & Under
LeBron James will be 40 in December. It seems a little strange to think that the “kid from Akron” is now more than two decades into his pro career. Moreover, his son is now playing with him. Time flies. But while LeBron James has earned his place in the GOAT conversation, it’s worth remembering that the game moves on. New stars come to the fore. Just as James took the baton from Michael Jordan and Jordan from Magic Johnson, someone else will come along to be the face of the NBA.
Of course, there are plenty of franchise players in the business today. From Nikola Jokic to Giannis Antetokounmpo to Joel Embiid, several stars can claim to be the best in the world. But there are also many players coming through the ranks. Players whose ceilings are very high. Not all of them will reach the heights of Lebron James as a once-in-a-generation player, but some have the chance to become superstars. Below, we look at five of the best young players in the NBA: the five most exciting ballers aged 23 and below:
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) 23
Edwards has the goods to become one of the best players in the world, and he now represents the cornerstone of the Timberwolves franchise. Edwards has established himself as one of the most explosive scorers in the league, and he’s one of the main reasons the Wolves are among the favorites in the NBA odds to win it all this season. He’s evolving his game, too, working on his defense to become a superb all-rounder.
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) 20
The Frenchman known as “The Alien” is out of this world. Wembanyama broke records as a rookie for San Antonio last season, winning ROY and becoming the first to be named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team. There’s a huge amount of pressure on Wembanyama’s young shoulders, including the task of revitalizing a flagging Spurs franchise, but Wembanyama seems to love it. He’s the player with the biggest potential on this list.
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Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic) 21
There’s a lot of love out there in some quarters for Banchero, and rightly so. He was the NBA ROY in 2023, and he followed that up with an All-Star nod in 2024. Here’s the thing: despite those accolades, we think Banchero is underrated – or at least overlooked in terms of media exposure outside the NBA. The kid has it all, and it arguably helps his cause that he is starring for one of the NBA’s up-and-coming teams in the Orlando Magic. We expect both the player and his team to shine brightly in the coming seasons.
Scoot Henderson (Prtland Trailblazers) 20
Henderson has already starred in movies, signed a huge endorsement deal with Puma, and trademarked his motto, “Overly Determined to Dominate.”. All of this before he has started 40 NBA games. The questions over whether his off-field distractions might impact his development are valid, yet he has a LeBron-esque confidence in his abilities, and he has talent in abundance to succeed in the NBA, potentially rising to the very top of the sport.
Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) 19
Let’s finish with a player who has yet to throw a ball in anger in the NBA proper. Risacher was the No.1 Draft Pick in 2024, and he joins the Atlanta Hawks with a huge reputation. The Frenchman already has several accolades from his time in Europe, but he is expected to make a huge splash in the NBA, especially as he looked comfortable in the 2024 NBA Summer League. While we don’t expect just as explosive of a start as Wembanyama, Risacher is one of the most exciting talents in the game, and he could blossom into a franchise star for the Hawks.