The 2024–25 NBA season felt like a changing of the guard. Sure, Luka Dončić and Anthony Edwards kept racking up stats and highlights, but honestly, the real buzz came from a wave of young players who just exploded onto the scene. Some guys arrived ahead of schedule. Others flipped the script on what people thought they could do. A few even dragged their teams to new places, almost single-handedly. These weren’t just flashes, either. They kept it up, night after night. NBA Best Young Players in 2025 are:

Victor Wembanyama: Shockingly Fast Ascent

Everyone figured Victor Wembanyama would be good—great, even—but nobody expected him to take over this quickly. By 2025, he was already the Spurs’ anchor, swatting shots and changing games on both ends. And it wasn’t just about his size or those endless arms. The real shock was how sharp he was defensively and how sturdy he looked, playing heavy minutes like it was nothing.

Wemby read offenses like a vet. He switched onto guards, guarded the rim, and kept the Spurs’ defense tight. On offense, he got comfortable shooting on the move and blowing by closeouts way faster than anyone thought he would.

At just 21, he already looked like a lock for All-NBA, not just some “wait and see” project.

Chet Holmgren: From Big Question to Big Answer

Chet Holmgren’s start was rocky—injuries, doubts, all that. But by 2025 with the Thunder, he shut everyone up. The surprise wasn’t that he was good. It was that he mattered this much, this soon, to a team that mattered.

He turned into the perfect modern big: protected the rim, spaced the floor, made quick, smart choices, and didn’t need a ton of touches to influence the game. His connection with the Thunder’s guards made their defense one of the league’s toughest.

The eye-opener? Chet bulked up. He handled banging in the paint, played real minutes at center, and didn’t get pushed around. He didn’t just get by—he owned his spot.

Jalen Williams: From Solid to Scary

Jalen Williams might be the biggest “whoa” of 2025. Before, he was a smart, steady wing. Now? He’s a borderline star.

His handle, his ability to create shots, the way he attacked tough defenses—suddenly, OKC had more than one creator. Williams punished mismatches, finished through contact, and became the guy they turned to late in games. He didn’t slack on defense, either—still versatile, still tough.

People always knew he was talented, but now teams actually have to game-plan for him.

Paolo Banchero: Finally The Guy

Paolo Banchero came in with hype, but 2025 was when he really became Orlando’s go-to guy. It wasn’t just his scoring, either. He figured out playmaking, especially against double teams, and started running the offense when it counted.

He used his strength and footwork to bully smaller defenders but could still step out and create from the outside. On defense, he got smarter—using his size, seeing plays before they happened, and helping Orlando climb the standings as he took over.

Alperen Şengün: The Jokic-Style Engine

Watching Alperen Şengün in Houston was just fun. People always made the Jokic comparisons, but in 2025, he actually started running the Rockets’ offense for stretches, not just making clever passes here and there.

His post moves, his passing, and—this was big—his better conditioning let him take over games for real. Defensively, he was never going to be a stopper, but he got smarter, moved his feet, and stopped being an easy target.

By now, Şengün’s not some weird experiment. He’s one of the best young offensive bigs in the league.

Tyrese Maxey: Learning to Run the Show

Tyrese Maxey didn’t add a bunch of new tricks—he just got sharper. In 2025, he turned into a legit lead guard, not just a guy who could get hot and score.

He figured out when to push the pace, how to run the pick-and-roll, and really dug in on defense. Maxey learned to use his speed, not just rely on it.

The main thing? Consistency. He stopped being streaky, started carrying the offense for stretches, and did it without chucking up bad shots.

Jalen Johnson: The Quiet Breakout

Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson sort of snuck up on people. He went from being just a high-energy guy off the bench to a real two-way force. His handle, his finishing in transition, and his ability to guard all over the floor—huge leap.

He turned into a real headache in transition, grabbed rebounds like a machine, and handled playmaking duties when needed. Defensively, he could guard just about anyone, and on offense, he always found ways to contribute. Honestly, it’s wild how little people talk about him—he’s easily one of the most underrated young guys in the league.

So, what can we take from all these surprises?

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that growth isn’t a straight line. The league’s best NBA young players didn’t just rely on pure talent. They made smarter choices, worked on their conditioning, and figured out their roles. That’s what pushed them forward.

Today’s NBA loves players who can do a bit of everything, think on their feet, and adjust on the fly. The ones who quietly leaned into that mindset? They’re the ones who really shocked us.

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