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1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama will be forced to watch the remainder of the 2025 season from the sidelines while he recovers from blood clots. He’s done more than enough in his time on the floor to warrant the No. 1 spot here. Before his season ended, Wembanyama was the clear favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year. An All-NBA designation is also in his future. There will be plenty of time for Wembanyama to collect accolades for the remainder of his career. The Spurs allowed their young star to expand his game in Year 2. Some were concerned with how many threes he hoisted up as a 7-foot-4 center, but Wembanyama acquiring a reliable outside jumper is a scary sight for the rest of the NBA.
2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards led a downtrodden Timberwolves franchise to the Western Conference Finals in his fourth year in the league. The former No. 1 pick quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players in the league with his explosive athleticism. Edwards has become a more well-rounded scorer over the years and has developed a lethal three-point shot. The next step for him is becoming a more consistent playmaker. He’s not quite as comfortable making plays for others as some of the other superstars across the league. It might be a situation where the Timberwolves will have to surround Edwards with four 3-and-D players to allow him ample space to create. One thing is for sure, there isn’t a defender in the league who can stay in front of Georgia Bulldog when he’s attacking downhill.
3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Cunningham has emerged as a star for the Detroit Pistons in 2025. The skills were always evident. All he needed was some time. Most guards struggle in their first years, and Cunningham still managed 17/5/5 as a rookie. His sophomore campaign was cut short due to injury, and he had one of the worst supporting casts in the league last year. It’s all come together in Year 4. Cunningham was named an All-Star, is one of the favorites to win Most Improved Player, will likely be selected to an All-NBA team, and is poised to help end the Pistons’ six-year playoff drought. He ranks in the top 10 in points and assists, is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker for his position, and has vastly improved his shooting efficiency at all levels. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him become the league’s premier point guard in a couple of years.
4. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
The top 4 of this ranking consists of the last four No. 1 picks. Paolo Banchero was selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and is already off to a strong start in his career. In his debut campaign, Banchero averaged 20.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 3.7 APG on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. As a sophomore, he was named an All-Star and led Orlando to the playoffs. The Magic entered this year with high expectations. Banchero started strong, notching a 50-point, 13-rebound, 9-assist game against the Pacers in the first week of the season. An oblique injury kept him sidelined for two months, and he’s struggled a bit since returning to the lineup. However, when he’s right, Banchero is an impossible cover. A 6-foot-10 forward who can score in isolation. Once he figures out that he can get to the basket whenever he wants, Banchero will be an unstoppable force on the offensive end.
5. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley entered the league with the ability to defend at a high level. It was a question of his offense having the same sort of impact. In Year 4, Mobley is starting to look like a legitimate two-way threat. He may never be a 25+ PPG scorer, but that isn’t necessary for him to have an impact. Mobley scores efficiently around the rim, has stretched his range beyond the three-point line, and has always been a good passer. In a lot of ways, he’s more of a throwback to the power forwards of the early 2000s. He won’t light up the scoreboard, but he contributes in all areas of the floor and plays winning basketball. It’s no surprise that the Cavaliers find themselves atop the Eastern Conference standings in Mobley’s breakout campaign. We’ll see if he can translate his play into the postseason.
6. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Depending on who you ask, some might have Wagner as the best, young prospect on the Magic. It may be a matter of preference. Wagner doesn’t have quite the same physical gifts as his teammate, Paolo Banchero, but the former Michigan Wolverine is a blossoming two-way player. Wagner leads the Magic in scoring and has developed immensely as a playmaker. He’s been an integral part of Orlando’s stifling defense. And, Wagner is no slouch athletically. The 23-year-old is listed at 6-foot-10 and moves extremely well for his size. The one issue for Wagner — like Banchero — has been the inconsistency from beyond the arc. After shooting it well his first two years, Wagner has hovered around 30-percent from three in ’23 and ’24. If he can even shoot in the mid-30s, Wagner will be an All-Star in no time.
7. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Maxey has tried to keep the 76ers afloat single-handedly. It’s been a down year for a Philadelphia team that has reached the postseason seven years in a row. That streak will likely come to an end in 2025, but to no fault of Maxey. He’s scoring at a higher rate than ever, and his efficiency has hardly waned. Of course, he’s proven capable of putting up big numbers for a good team — he did it last year. Arguably the fastest player in the league, Maxey can reach a gear that is unattainable by 99.9-percent of the league. He was named Most Improved Player in 2024 after a career season. The 76ers struck gold with the 21st pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Maxey won’t turn 25 until November of this year.
8. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
A first-time All-Star this season, Jalen Williams has been one of many success stories for the Oklahoma City Thunder. A late-bloomer coming out of Santa Clara University, Williams parlayed a strong junior campaign into becoming the 12th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. It was quickly made apparent that the Thunder had found a diamond in the late lottery. Williams is an effortless scorer from all levels. He’s one of the better passing wings in the league and rarely turns the ball over. Perhaps most important for a surging Thunder team is Williams’ versatility on the defensive end. He can seamlessly toggle between hounding the league’s best guards and battling bigs down low. Williams will likely end his career as a multiple-time All-Defensive honoree, and he’s no slouch offensively.
9. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
There’s no denying LaMelo Ball’s talent. He’s an elite creator with the ball in his hands, whether it’s setting up teammates or for himself. His range stretches well beyond the three-point line, and he doesn’t even need to set his feet for it to be a quality look. As a passer, Ball is a true quarterback. His 6-foot-7 frame allows him to see passing lanes that others could not. It’s the other end of the floor where he’s struggled. He’ll need to commit to becoming a better defender if the Hornets ever want to be taken seriously in the Eastern Conference. Ball has led Charlotte to a play-in berth in ’22, but they’ve been a perennial bottom-dweller since then. Additionally, he’s struggled to stay on the floor while dealing with several injuries. Ball is a supreme talent, but it hasn’t translated into much winning yet.
10. Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets
The Rockets will break a five-year playoff drought this season, and their young core has been a driving factor in the rebuild. While Houston spent top-4 picks on Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard, it’s the former No. 16 pick — Alperen Şengün — who is their best overall player. Şengün is the offensive hub for a Houston team that lacks some offensive punch. He’s skilled in the low post, has excellent footwork, and is a quality passer. Though a tad undersized at center, Sengun doesn’t back down from any matchup and is often the focal point for opposing defenses. We could see someone like Green or Thompson eventually emerge, but Şengün is currently the top young star for the rising Rockets.
