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The NBA has had some of the best youngsters play in the league over the past few years. Sensations like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Ja Morant and Zion Williamson have all made a big name for themselves in the NBA. Their age has not stopped them from becoming superstars for their franchises.
Several other players have been touted to do the same for their teams in the coming season. In today's article, we list the top five players to watch out for in the 2021-22 season. The names of rookies drafted this year are not mentioned in the list, as they are yet to be tried and tested in the NBA.
Top five NBA players aged 20 or under, playing in the 2020-21 season
#5 Isaiah Stewart
Isaiah Stewart was drafted 16th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2020. He was then part of a trade that saw him, Trevor Ariza and a future first-round pick go to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Robert Covington. Stewart was later once again part of a trade that saw him move to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Christian Wood. '
In his first whole NBA season at the Motor City, Stewart was exceptional. He played 68 games for the Pistons and averaged 7.8 PPG at a 55.3% shooting from the field. The power forward also averaged 1.3 BPG throughout the NBA season. Although the Pistons finished 15th in the East, Isaiah's performance in the rookie season definitely gave the fans hope of a sensational player for the future.
His brilliance on the court helped him get into the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Isaiah will be hoping to continue his brilliance in his sophomore year and possibly help the Pistons get back into the playoffs.
#4 Talen Horton - Tucker
Talen Horton-Tucker is the only youngster on the list to have already won a championship. His terrific abilities on the court have impressed many Lakers fans. After a stellar pre-season, THT got to play in 65 regular-season games last year. He averaged 9.0 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the field.
His most impressive game last season came against the Utah Jazz. Horton-Tucker scored 24 points in the 28 minutes he played while shooting 61.5% from the field. The recruitment of players like Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo means the youngster may miss out on some playing time. However, the kind of experience he will get playing aside some of the greatest players in the game will definitely help him transcend his game to the next level.
#3 Patrick Williams
Patrick Williams was drafted 4th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2020. He started 71 games in his debut season, where he played 27. 9 minutes per game. Throughout his rookie season, Williams averaged 9.2 PPG on a 48.3% shooting from the field.
At just 20, Williams is shaping up to be a great two-way player. His terrific performances helped him get into the NBA All-Rookie second team. The addition of players like Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Demar DeRozan adds a lot of strength to the Bulls roster. However, Williams is still expected to be an integral part of the team. The forward will be hoping to contribute to the Bulls' success this season and help the franchise to its first playoff appearance since 2017.
#2 Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards was the number one pick in the 2020 draft. He was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves to form a formidable young team with Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell. In his rookie season, Edwards lived up to all the hype, as he averaged 19.3 PPG in the 72 games he played.
Edwards came second behind LaMelo Ball in the rookie of the year race. However, he was part of the NBA All-Rookie first team and proved that he is on track to be a great player. He will be a key part of the Timberwolves team that will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in the 2020-21 season. The ceiling is too high for him and he will be hoping to live up to it by delivering a stellar season with the Wolves.
#1 LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball was drafted third overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. He impressed everyone with his terrific performances and was part of many highlight reels last year. Ball missed out on quite a few games during the regular season, but he did enough to win the Rookie of the Year trophy.
In his debut season, Ball averaged 15.7 PPG and 6.1 APG. He showed off his amazing ball-handling skills and quickly won appreciation from several experts. After a terrific rookie season, the youngster will be hoping for an even more improved performance in his second year.
The Hornets lost out to the Washington Wizards in their play-in game last year. However, LaMelo will be hoping to give his best and help the team cross the line this season to help them get into their first playoffs since 2016.
Guess the Lakers players!
