The young talent in the NBA is incredible; there are no two ways about this.
Lately, we’ve seen teenagers dominate the league – from Luka, to Ja, to Zion – while more and more superstars are coming out of the woodwork.
The reigning player par excellence is only 25, but there are a lot of guys on his tail, which begs the question: who will be the best players in five years?
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It is not easy to answer – you have to take into account a person’s skills, potential and longevity – but we have taken a crack.
Honorable mentions
Joel Embiid
Embiid is stupidly dominant, and has the case as one of the top five players in the world today, but those knees are scary. When we think about who will be the best player in five years, longevity matters, and it is likely that Embiid will not be until 31 years of age.
Kyrie Irving
There are so many guards who are better two-way players, less prone to injury and more reliable overall. It is very likely that Irving will remain the one-dimensional offensive star that he is today.
Brandon ingram
Ingram’s growth has been remarkable, and its cap East very high, but there are guys on the list who have shown a little more – and with similar potential – to keep the Pelican at bay.
Trae Young
You’ll see as you march that defense counts, and Young is one of the worst.
Pascal Siakam
Siakam is an All-Star, and the way his game has grown in recent years has been a joy to behold, but the talent that is younger than him is so immense that there is no room for the 30 year old player. here.
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TOP 10 NBA PLAYERS IN 2025
10. Bam Adebayo
Age in 2025: 27
We value defense here. But it’s not fair this; Adebayo has been one of the best all-rounders this season, and his growth over the past year has been staggering.
Apparently out of nowhere, Adebayo has gone from great energy – essentially just a rim racer – to an All-Star and one of the best and most unique centers in the NBA.
His athleticism means that he will be able to be consistent over a long period of time, and if his improvement over the past 12 months is anything, the growth over the next 60 months could be incredible.
9. Ja Morant
Age in 2025: 25
Morant is already one of the most exciting players in the league, thanks to his extremely dynamic point guard and competitiveness at both ends.
That’s why he deserves a place on this list. Morant looks like an NBA winner and already averages 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists as a rookie.
He will more than likely be the rookie of the year 2020, defends his behind and already has more impact than a first-year goalkeeper. He’s going to be a scary player.
8. Kawhi Leonard (33)
Age in 2025: 33
Kawhi Leonard is one of the top three players in the NBA in 2020.
In 2025, he will be 33 years old.
Essentially, there is a very real argument to be made that Leonard will still be in the conversation of “the best player in the world” in five years.
But this one went down to health. How a legitimate two-way star with injury issues will look at 33 is a real question to ask.
It could go both ways, and Leonard will likely stay in that higher level for the next few years. Whether 2025 is just a year or two too far remains to be seen.
7. Karl-Anthony Towns
Age in 2025: 29
It might be a controversial inclusion, but we’re not that far from Karl-Anthony Towns the guys to build around the NBA.
The cities have not gained much in Minnesota; one of the reasons why it has become an underestimated product in the NBA.
The Timberwolves’ big man has missed star selection this season – mostly due to an injury – after being selected the previous two years, but statistically has a monstrous campaign.
At just 24, Towns has posted 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season, and draws more than 41% out of three. These numbers are special; despite its size.
If we look at pure talent, Towns has the potential to be much higher on this list in 2025. On the other hand, if he can’t win Minnesota, or elsewhere, the narrative will remain focused on the meaning of its impact is actually.
6. Anthony Davis (32)
Age in 2025: 32
In five years, Davis will be 32 years old and will probably reach the end of his peak.
Yet if we follow growth and versatility during his career, the Los Angeles Laker will always be one of the best players in the world. Davis is at its peak right now, posting incredible numbers for the best team in the Western Conference: 26.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game in one of their defensive seasons the most impressive ones to date.
The big man’s three point percentage has hovered around 33% in recent seasons, while his mobility, athleticism and skills upgrading have come to the fore; all that bodes well for its longevity.
He is already one of the most qualified players in the league, and that should not change in five years.
5. Jayson Tatum
Age in 2025: 27
When Jayson Tatum was drafted, he had all the potential to become a NBA superstar wing.
We’ve seen glimpses of it over the years, but this last stretch – averaging over 30 points per game in February – was something different, and was a release party for the 22 player years.
If that were its growth in three years, imagine what it would look like in five years. By 2025, Tatum should have all the tools you need to be the best player in the world, and it is not out of the question to think that he could be the best pure scorer in the league at this point.
4. Ben Simmons
Age in 2025: 28
It’s really hard to say how much Simmons development will go by in 28 years, but the Australian is already a triple-double machine and one of the best defenders in the NBA, so what he could be in five years is scary.
Simmons would have just started the prime of his career and, at the very least, should have a reliable mid-range rider to lean on; is it too much to ask in the next half decade?
Don’t be surprised if Simmons has more than one defensive player of the year title, and maybe even a championship.
At the end of the day, Simmons is a 6’10 point guard who is an elite at both ends of the field. The hope is that by then he will have a team around him, instead of having to share the spotlight.
3. Zion Williamson
Age in 2025: 24
Of course, he only played 19 games in the NBA. But those 19 games were so good that Zion Williamson more than justified the hype and his place in this top-3.
At 19, Williamson scores an average of 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 58.9% on the field.
In five years, in a more refined system built only around it and with a jump shot that can only be improved, Williamson could be the most effective offensive weapon in NBA history.
2. Luka Doncic
Age in 2025: 26
Luka Doncic could have been an All-Star in his rookie season. In his second season, he earned this honor and instead ranks among the top 5 candidates for the title of MVP in the league.
He is also barely 21 years old.
Doncic started playing professionally when he was still a child, so his peak could come sooner than expected.
He already dominates the NBA, plays with an ease that makes you believe, and there is an argument to be made that he is not close to his physical peak. Young people sometimes need a few seasons to discover how to get the most out of their bodies; a super-fit Doncic might be impossible to stop.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Age in 2025: 30
It is not a particularly complicated decision.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is 25 and is likely – if or when the NBA season returns – to win consecutive MVPs.
In five years, the Greek Freak should be at its peak, with a more rounded game.
The truth is, he probably doesn’t need to become the best player in the world by 2025, but with improved shooting, there will be little room for debate.
As long as Antetokounmpo stays in a system – whether it’s Milwaukee or not – that plays his strengths, he will be the best player in the league.
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Olgun Uluc is the senior basketball reporter for Fox Sports Australia. Twitter: @OlgunUluc
Gadiel Notelovitz is the international sports manager for Fox Sports Australia. Twitter: @Gadi_Notelovitz