The Future of Basketball (Under 25 Team)

As part of a series on the transition of the NBA, Sideline Sports Reports will highlight the past, future, and present of the league. With the influx of supreme talent and the soon-to-be departure of a handful of legends that helped modernize the game, Stephen and I thought it would be a good time to sit down and discuss the transition that the league is currently undergoing. While it is easy to see the present stars like LeBron, Curry, KD, and Westbrook, sometimes we forget how special some of the older guys in the league were during their prime. It's probably even easier for us to overlook the young guys as they rise to the ranks of stardom.

In this series we will highlight the greats that many of us grew up watching and examine the way their careers are coming to a close. We will also look at the current stars of the league and project how the rest of their careers will go. In this edition of the series I will look at the best players in the league that are under the age of 25. The league is filled with young talent, forcing me to make a 1st team and a 2nd team.

1st Team U-25

G- Kyrie Irving (23)  Although Irving has missed most of the season, it is clear that he is right on the cusp of top-5 point guard status. Irving is a freakish athlete and probably has the best handles in the game. With LeBron by his side, Irving will be able to develop all facets of his game and has learned how to play off the ball. I have no doubt that Kyrie Irving can make 10+ All-Star games and will eventually be a 2 or 3 time champion.

G- Bradley Beal (22)  Beal is currently out with a foot injury, but he is still due for a massive pay day this off-season. Beal is a great outside shooter and can be a high volume scorer (19.8 ppg). He plays off the ball really well and combines with Wall to make one of the best backcourts in the league. If Beal remains in Washington, him and Wall could do something special.

F- Kawhi Leonard (24)  Leonard is already a star. The 2014 Finals MVP and the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, has once-again expanded his game this off-season. Kawhi has developed into one of the most efficient offensive players in the league. He is averaging a career high 21.1 ppg, with a slash line of .510/.472/.879. If four years ago you had told me Kawhi would be approaching 50/40/90 status I would have called you crazy. The sky is the limit for Leonard as he continues to grow and plays for arguably the most stable franchise in sports.

 

F- Anthony Davis (22)  This year has been a bit of a disappointment for Davis, as the Pelicans continue to lose games. With a lack of healthy supporting players around him, Davis has been forced to carry the load and has struggled some while facing double and triple teams. The guy is still an animal and is putting up supreme numbers. Davis is averaging a double-double with nearly 3 blocks per game. People seem to forget that he is only 22 years old and have come to expect too much from him. This winter, Davis will make his third All-Star game in four seasons.

C- Andre Drummond (22)  Drummond can make a case for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Drummond is putting up rebounding numbers that haven't been seen since Dennis Rodman. He is averaging 18 and 16.2 through 29 games and has claimed the title of best center in the league. The Pistons are a young and encouraging team that has a 17-12 record after 3 straight wins. If Drummond signs a max extension this off-season and they continue to progress as a team, they have a chance to become a consistent threat in the East.

2nd Team U-25

G- Brandon Knight (24)
G- Andrew Wiggins (20)
F- Giannis Antetokounmpo (21)
F- Derrick Favors (24)
C- Karl-Anthony Towns (20)


Grayson Gold-Garvey, Twitter @TheGraygo
*Image provided by Soobum Im, USA Today