NBA Power Rankings: The 30 Most Exciting Young Rising Players

Young Riser: Ajay Mitchell

Many anticipated that Jalen Williams` return would diminish Mitchell`s role in the rotation, but this hasn`t been the case. In December, Mitchell is averaging 11.3 points on an efficient 8.1 shots in 25 minutes per game. While this is a slight dip from his earlier season surge, Mitchell, in his second year, has established himself as a nightly rotation staple and one of the most reliable young bench playmakers for the league`s top team, regardless of the availability of other stars. — Anthony Slater

Young Riser: Jalen Duren

Although Jalen Duren might not win Most Improved Player, he has undeniably taken a significant step forward this season. While some motivation may stem from his upcoming restricted free agency, this growth feels like a natural progression for the recently turned 22-year-old. Duren is not just the elite lob threat that Cade Cunningham desperately needs for vertical spacing; he has also made major strides as a defender, excelling both in space and particularly in the paint. He ranks third in offensive rebounding per game, proving he will be a critical factor in playoff scenarios where extra possessions are vital. — Vincent Goodwill

Young Riser: Tyler Kolek

Tyler Kolek represents the closest thing the Knicks have to a true young riser, and he is steadily earning more minutes. Coach Mike Brown even experimented with playing Kolek alongside Jalen Brunson late during the NBA Cup. The results were encouraging enough that Kolek was on the floor during the Knicks` comeback victory over the Pacers, posting a season-high 26 minutes, 16 points, and 11 assists. While a healthy Brunson might limit his playing time, Kolek seems poised to fulfill the team`s need for backup point guard reliability. — Goodwill

Young Riser: Peyton Watson

The 23-year-old Peyton Watson has brilliantly capitalized on his opportunity to start due to injuries. Entering Tuesday`s games, he was averaging 14.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 54.3% from the field and 45.0% from three-point range over 16 starts. Watson, a long, athletic wing who offers valuable rim protection, now faces a significant long-term question: will his future fit into the Nuggets` budget? He is set to become a restricted free agent this summer after Denver failed to finalize an extension on his rookie deal. — Tim MacMahon

Young Riser: Dylan Harper

San Antonio`s new “Big 3” is developing in real-time, featuring consecutive NBA Rookie of the Year winners Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, now joined by rookie Dylan Harper. Harper has a legitimate chance to help the Spurs become the first franchise to produce three straight winners of the award. The smooth, 19-year-old lefty plays with exceptional craft and poise for his age, clearly positioning him as a major piece of San Antonio`s future. Although he is only shooting 27.7% from beyond the arc as a rookie, his confidence is growing, particularly from the left wing. — Michael C. Wright

Young Riser: Reed Sheppard

A second-year player, Sheppard made history on Saturday by becoming the first Rocket since Lou Williams in 2017 to record 25 points and five assists coming off the bench. He achieved this feat by knocking down six 3-pointers on the road in Denver, helping Houston snap the Nuggets` six-game winning streak. Sheppard has demonstrated a dedicated commitment to improving the weaker aspects of his game, notably spending three weeks over the summer concentrating purely on defense without even touching a basketball. — Wright

Young riser: Adou Thiero

The Lakers showed commitment to Thiero, moving up twice in the second round to select him. Although his current stats are modest (less than one point, one rebound, and one assist per game), the chiseled 6-foot-8 forward has already impressed the organization with his work ethic while recovering from left knee surgery. At just 21 years old, L.A. views Thiero as a long-term project with significant defensive potential. — Dave McMenamin

Young risers: Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon Jr.

A larger concern for the Timberwolves is the silence from former top-10 pick Rob Dillingham, who has been excluded from the rotation in favor of Bones Hyland. However, we highlight the combination of Clark and Shannon. Both players will continue to compete for a consistent wing rotation spot, looking to fill the long-term role vacated by the departed Nickeil Alexander-Walker. — Tim Bontemps

Young riser: Jordan Walsh

Entering the season, Jordan Walsh’s role was uncertain. Yet, the 2023 second-round pick has solidified his place as a consistent starter for the surprising Celtics. Though on low volume, he is shooting well over 40% from three-point range. Walsh`s mix of length, athleticism, and high energy makes him an ideal complementary player alongside Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. If he maintains this level of play, he has an excellent chance to carve out a long-term role in Boston. — Bontemps

Young riser: Anthony Black

While Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs have proven their promise when healthy, Anthony Black is gaining momentum with increased minutes. Entering Tuesday`s game, Black had scored in double figures in 15 of his last 16 games. His increased time coincided with earlier injuries to Banchero, and his current larger role is helping cover for the sidelined Wagner and Suggs. Black’s versatility in defending, scoring, passing, and rebounding has been crucial, and he is expected to remain a valuable contributor even once the Magic are fully healthy. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Young riser: VJ Edgecombe

It’s remarkable that a year ago, the 76ers believed they had no chance of keeping their top-six protected first-round pick. Now, they possess their future backcourt in Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. Edgecombe has recently demonstrated the ability to step up his playmaking role when Maxey was out sick. He also leads the team in plus-minus, validating Coach Nick Nurse’s trust in a rookie guard to take on a significant role for a team with playoff ambitions. — Bontemps

Young riser: Jamal Shead

Nikola Jokic leads all qualified players with 11.6 assists per 36 minutes, and right behind him—ahead of Josh Giddey and Cade Cunningham—is Raptors backup guard Jamal Shead, averaging 9.6 assists per 36 minutes. While Shead`s jump shot needs improvement (35.5% field goal, 32.3% from three), the 2024 second-round selection is proving to be a solid rotation player, able to create opportunities for teammates, minimize turnovers, and provide tough defense despite his smaller stature. — Zach Kram

Young riser: Mark Williams

Just months after the Lakers withdrew their trade for Mark Williams due to a failed physical, the Suns executed their own package for the 7-foot-1 center. Williams, who turned 24 this month, has been a reliable presence for Phoenix, averaging 12.6 points on 66.5% shooting, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Crucially, he has managed to appear in 24 of the Suns` 29 games. — McMenamin

Young riser: Jaylon Tyson

The No. 20 pick in the 2024 draft, Tyson has emerged as a legitimate starting-caliber forward for the Cavs after a quiet rookie season. He is averaging 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds on 51.9% shooting (44.9% from three), maintaining his production despite the team’s struggles. The Cavaliers, who have lost four of their last seven games, have been one of the league`s most disappointing teams so far. However, Tyson has seized the opportunity to carve out a permanent role for himself. — Jamal Collier

Young riser: Kel’el Ware

Still only 21 years old, Ware has showcased massive potential. Entering Tuesday`s game, Ware had a three-game streak of double-doubles, including 28 points and 19 rebounds against the Knicks, and 24 points and 14 rebounds against Boston. In that stretch, the 7-footer also hit a combined 12-of-16 attempts from deep. The key challenge, however, is consistency and effort. Just before that dominant run, Ware scored a combined 19 points in the four prior games. The slumping Heat need a consistently impactful Ware to get back on track. — Youngmisuk

Young riser: Quinten Post

After two months of rotational uncertainty, Steve Kerr has settled on a starting lineup that features second-year center Quinten Post alongside Draymond Green in the frontcourt. Post, a 7-foot stretch option, attempts a high volume of jumpers; his 8.6 attempted 3s per 36 minutes rank second among all NBA centers, only behind Brook Lopez. While his accuracy needs to improve (currently 33.1%, down from 40.8% as a rookie), the strategy is clear: provide offensive spacing next to Green while easing Green’s defensive burden. Post boasts encouraging rim protection numbers, and the Warriors have a 103.4 defensive rating with him on the floor—the best mark on the team. — Slater

Young riser: Jalen Johnson

Jalen Johnson, who just turned 24, may be one of the league`s fastest-rising young talents. His breakout season last year was cut short by injury, but he has taken another massive leap forward, averaging 23.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists with 39.3% three-point shooting. With Trae Young sidelined early in the season, Johnson stepped into the lead role and recorded six triple-doubles, including four consecutive earlier this month. Even with Young back, Johnson continues to post huge numbers, including 43 points against Charlotte and 36 against Chicago. Johnson isn’t just an All-Star caliber player; he has a strong case for All-NBA contention. — Youngmisuk

Young riser: Cedric Coward

The 22-year-old rookie entered Memphis` matchup on Monday having started 16 consecutive games and scored in double figures in all 16 contests. The Grizzlies traded up to the No. 11 spot on draft night to acquire Coward, who played only six games in his senior season at Washington State. Memphis’ front office was thrilled to land Coward, who provides size and defensive tenacity at shooting guard while hitting 32.1% from deep on 4.5 attempts per game. — Wright

Young riser: Matas Buzelis

The Bulls` second-year forward has been instrumental in their recent four-game winning streak, and his offensive development stands out as one of the team`s few bright spots. Buzelis is averaging 19.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals over the last four games. This burst of production has helped Chicago’s offense return to the fast-paced, ball-sharing style it utilized early in the season—a system in which Buzelis clearly thrives. — Collier

Young riser: Shaedon Sharpe

After a slow start, Shaedon Sharpe has delivered the kind of breakthrough the Blazers hoped for when they signed the 22-year-old guard to a four-year contract extension in October. Since November 1st, Sharpe is averaging 23.5 points per game on an effective 55% shooting from the field. Furthermore, his defense has been reliable enough to secure his starting spot after he spent an extended period on the bench last season. While Deni Avdija remains Portland’s cornerstone player, Sharpe is cementing his case as a core piece of the Blazers` future. — Kevin Pelton

Young riser: Cooper Flagg

No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who turned 19 over the weekend, is living up to the monumental hype. LeBron James is the only player to have achieved similar production levels as an 18-year-old. Flagg started the season playing out of position at point guard but has thrived since shifting to his natural forward spot, averaging 20.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 50.5% from the floor. He is the only rookie to rank in the top three of his class in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks, and steals. — MacMahon

Young riser: Ryan Rollins

The emergence of guard Ryan Rollins has been one of the few positive developments for the struggling Bucks, who have dropped five of their last seven games since Giannis Antetokounmpo strained his right calf. Rollins is averaging 17 points and 5.9 assists on 47.2% shooting (38.7% from three) just two years after being waived by the Wizards. Yet, Rollins` minutes have recently dwindled to 25.8 per game as Coach Doc Rivers attempts to split the playing time between his two point guards, Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. Rollins has been one of the team`s most effective players all season and should not see his role reduced if the team hopes to save its season. — Collier

Young riser: Kon Knueppel

On Monday, No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel shattered the record for the fastest NBA player to reach 100 career 3-pointers, accomplishing the feat in just 29 games—12 games fewer than the previous record holder, Lauri Markkanen. Knueppel combines high volume (8.7 attempts per game) with 41.4% accuracy and is close to achieving 50-40-90 shooting splits (though he is shooting only 47% overall). While Duke teammate Cooper Flagg has surpassed him as the Rookie of the Year favorite, Knueppel is undoubtedly a crucial building block for a franchise in desperate need of one. — Pelton

Young riser: Keyonte George

Third-year guard Keyonte George should be on every short list of Most Improved Player candidates. Though he lost his starting job midway through last season, he has dramatically boosted his scoring average from 7.1 to 23.9 points per game, making similar leaps in field goal percentage (.447), true shooting percentage (.603), and assists (6.9). The Jazz are optimistic that George, 22, along with 19-year-old rookie Ace Bailey, can form the foundation pieces as the franchise looks to become competitive in the near future. — MacMahon

Young riser: Derik Queen

Derik Queen has been central to the Pelicans’ unlikely five-game winning streak following a terrible 3-22 start. During this span, Queen is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 59.1% shooting. While fellow lottery pick Jeremiah Fears has also impressed, Queen has emerged as the stronger prospect, despite being drafted six picks later. The recent winning streak has also reduced the chance that New Orleans will have to give up a top-four pick related to the trade for Queen. — Pelton

Young riser: Noah Clowney

Noah Clowney is a bright spot for the struggling Nets. As Brooklyn has fared better over the past month, Clowney`s performances have mirrored this improvement, finding his footing and taking a leading role in the absence of Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. Clowney averaged 17.3 points and shot 37% from three over the last month. While the Nets would prefer that percentage to be closer to 40%, the volume he is attempting makes this a positive development. With the Nets retaining all five first-round picks from last June`s draft, the situation was ripe for a player to step up, and Clowney, in Year 3, looks to be the one taking the biggest leap forward. — Goodwill

Young riser: Kobe Sanders

Although much has been made of the Clippers` offseason decisions favoring veteran players over youth, the 23-year-old Kobe Sanders has been a bright spot despite the team`s early struggles. The 6-foot-8 guard, taken with the No. 50 pick in the second round, is averaging 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. He was key in LA`s 115-92 road victory in Atlanta earlier this month, where he contributed 17 points on 5-for-6 shooting and four assists. — McMenamin

Young riser: Maxime Raynaud

Injuries have sidelined Domantas Sabonis for all but 11 games due to a partially torn meniscus that will keep him out for at least another month. This created a major frontcourt void, and the Kings, prioritizing youth development, handed the starting center job to second-round rookie Maxime Raynaud. He has started eight consecutive games, averaging a steady 14.3 points and 9.6 rebounds during that period. He thrives as a dump-off target for Russell Westbrook, who has assisted on 33 of Raynaud’s made field goals—25 more than any other teammate. Several people within the organization have been highly impressed with Raynaud’s growth over the past month. — Slater

Young riser: Bennedict Mathurin

Bennedict Mathurin is in one of the most interesting contractual situations in the league. The former No. 6 pick is the franchise’s highest-drafted player since the 1980s, but he was inconsistent during the playoffs last spring and is set to become a restricted free agent next summer. The Pacers chose not to give Mathurin an extension, meaning they could re-sign him next summer, let him walk, or attempt to trade him mid-season. It remains difficult to definitively place Mathurin in the team`s long-term structure. He remains an explosive scorer (career-high 18.7 points per game this season) but contributes little else, having recorded more career turnovers than assists. — Kram

Young riser: Alex Sarr

Alex Sarr was incredibly raw as a rookie in 2024-25. The No. 2 pick showed flashes of potential but posted the worst effective field goal percentage (45.7%) of any qualified player. As a sophomore, however, Sarr has made massive strides: He is averaging 18.9 points per game on league-average shooting efficiency (54.9% eFG), and his 1.9 blocks per game rank near the top of the NBA leaderboard. — Kram