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As we prepare to process the action-packed first couple of weeks of the regular season, some names have already made an indelible mark for themselves. Although the standings will change and there'll be an expected upturn of talent as the year goes on, it seems reasonable to point out the youngsters that have laid the foundation for illustrious careers.
NBA players are known to start young and build a reputation before they hit their mid-twenties. And the norm holds up when considering the amount of basketball they play every single year. It becomes justified to attach an on-court image to every youngster after we've seen them flourish through the course of their career's initial stages.
Moreover, the magnitude of talent that gets pumped into the NBA every year via the draft is hard to keep track of. It becomes that much more tedious for a newcomer to build an identity for himself when the season tips off.
As an ode to those who managed to overcome the aforementioned hurdle, let's take a look at five prominent NBA names aged under 25.
#1 Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns tipped off his NBA career with a 'Rookie of the Year' performance in 2016 and has subsequently transformed into the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise ever since.
After posting 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game last year, Towns recorded his fourth straight season of averaging double-doubles. Entering into the 2019-20 season, the T-Wolves are not projected to make any waves again, but KAT's skillset has carved out a respectable position for him for the years to come.
He is averaging a career-high 27.5 points and 11.5 rebounds to begin this season and looks motivated to lead another All-Star year. His 7-foot, 248-pound frame comes handy while dominating the paint and securing rebounds on both ends of the floor. It is interesting to know that Towns played all 82 games in his first three seasons (averaging a double-double), and that tells a lot about his durability in the long run.
#2 Luka Doncic
There is a downside that comes with winning the ROY award. It is the pressure to keep playing at a high level in the coming years and getting better every single day. Luka Doncic's ceiling is only getting higher with each passing game. After scoring over 21 points per game in his first year, the Slovenian has started his sophomore year with almost 28 points per contest across the six games played so far.
If there was a doubt about his All-Star caliber last year, he is a surefire candidate to be one ths year around. His unique on-court aptitude has led to him averaging almost a triple-double this season. He is a career 43% shooter from the field and is quickly turning into the franchise cornerstone for the Dallas Mavericks.
#3 Devin Booker
Devin Booker is the youngest player ever to have dropped 70 points in a game. Many have wished his story would have been written in a different uniform but the youngster doesn't seem to care.
The 23-year-old has been one of the league's most consistent individual performers despite his team's catastrophic runs in the past. Since last year, Booker has not shot below 46% from field or averaged below 22 points since the 2016-17 season. His offensive prowess knows no bounds and his isolation plays are a treat to witness.
Now in his fifth year with the Phoenix Suns franchise, fans are getting anxious more than ever to see him in the postseason as well as be a part of the All-Star game.
#4 Trae Young
Trae Young is shooting almost 50% from downtown in the games played this season so far, carrying forward from where he left last year. His scoring average of 26.8 points is among the top 10 in the league right now, while he provides another 7.3 assists and 5 rebounds per game to go along with it. He went down with an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out of action for at least a couple of weeks, putting a hold on one of the best starts to a season any player could ever hope for.
Young's rise to glory was a slow and patient process but at the moment, he looks comfortable as ever in the spotlight. Standing at 6-foot-1, he has been leading the charge for the Atlanta Hawks franchise on offense ever since the day he was drafted.
#5 Brandon Ingram
Brandon Ingram was shipped in a package to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis, but it seems like that would have been the best thing to happen from Ingram's individual standpoint.
He is evolving as a lethal scorer in his newest team, as he averages a career-high 23.5 points per game along the 6 matchups he has played in so far. Moreover, his 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game are also personal career-bests, which depict his growth as an all round player this early in the season.
His ability to get to his spot and shoot over 51% from the field has resulted in a noticeable beginning to his 2018-19 campaign.
