Who's next? It's a question that lingers over every NBA season, but perhaps never more so than at the dawn of a new one.
The 2026-27 campaign begins this week after the NBA crowned a ninth different champion in nine years when the New York Knicks captured the 2026 NBA Finals. Despite the spotlight on New York, Victor Wembanyama remains at the forefront of the league conversation entering the season as the San Antonio Spurs star continues his ascent toward becoming the NBA's next dominant force.
Older superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry are still among the league's biggest attractions, while established stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Jalen Brunson are squarely in their primes. But the NBA's next generation continues to gain ground, a trend reflected in USA TODAY Sports' Top 100 player rankings entering the season.
Twenty-five players under the age of 25 made the list, led by Wembanyama. The rankings also feature three teenagers, two members of the 2026 draft class and multiple young stars expected to shape the NBA's future for years to come.
Here's a look at the top 25 NBA players under 25, according to USA TODAY Sports.
NBA: We ranked the best player on every NBA team. Sixers among biggest surprises
NBA top 25 players under 25
Each player on this under-25 list is ranked based on where they were voted in USA TODAY's NBA top 100 rankings released ahead of the 2026-27 season. Their overall player ranking is in parentheses.
25. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns, 24 years old (99)
24. Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz, 19 years old (98)
23. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers, 22 years old (97)
22. Peyton Watson, Cleveland Cavaliers, 24 years old (96)
21. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers, 23 years old (92)
20. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder, 24 years old (90)
19. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder, 22 years old (87)
18. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks, 23 years old (84)
17. AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards, 19 years old (82)
16. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers, 21 years old (79)
15. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz, 22 years old (67)
14. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls, 24 years old (66)
13. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons, 23 years old (64)
12. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets, 23 years old (57)
11. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets, 21 years old (51)
10. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs, 20 years old (47)
9. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets, 24 years old (40)
8. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons, 22 years old (39)
7. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, 23 years old (34)
6. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, 19 years old (31)
5. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets, 23 years old (29)
4. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs, 21 years old (28)
3. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, 24 years old (25)
2. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder, 24 years old (23)
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, 22 years old (3)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama leads USA TODAY's top 25 NBA players under 25