Final Conclusions:
Here’s how I rank the top ten players under 21 in the NBA:
- Luka Doncic
- Jayson Tatum
- De’Aaron Fox
- Lonzo Ball
- John Collins
- Brandon Ingram
- Jamal Murray
- Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Trae Young
- Deandre Ayton
There are three guaranteed All-Stars on my list above: Doncic, Tatum, and Fox. Right now, Ball and Ingram are one rung below the top-3 players 21 and under in the NBA, but they aren’t as far away from them as most people think.
I have Lonzo and Ingram ranked higher than better scorers like Murray and Young because they already excel on defense, which is typically the hardest part of the game for young players to pick up.
Ball and Ingram are also slowly coming along on offense. Lonzo was really starting to explode to the rack and finish before he got hurt. Ingram is passing better as the season progresses and he’s also schooling opponents from 10-to-16 feet away from the rim.
Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were both No. 2 picks for the team with the most national TV games in the NBA. Fans and members of the media alike have tremendous expectations for the Lakers’ two youngest players, and it would be almost impossible for any player to live up to them. Everyone should relax and understand that both players are years away from their primes.
It takes time for players to develop, but Lonzo and Brandon both have good personalities and a strong work ethic, which are key to help any basketball player improve.
Going off the way Ingram and Ball compare favorably to all of the other players who are 21 or younger in the NBA it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them both make the All-Star game in the next three to four years.
*all stats in this article come courtesy of stats.nba.com*