Us fans loveeeeee to chat about which young talent is the best in the league, but what do we REALLY know? It’s the executives who make a living out of watching these players who we should be listening too, right? Well, today is your lucky day everyone!

Hoopshype polled 15 NBA talent evaluators, four general managers, six executives, and five scouts, asking them who they think are the best young players to build around under 25. The top of the list shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, however, the middle of it should. 2019 first overall selection Zion Williamson apparently didn’t paly enough games to prove why he should be near the top of the bunch… just take a look:

1. Luca Doncic (100%)

2. Jayson Tatum (64%)

3. Devin Booker (25.3%)

4. Ja Morant (18.7%)

T5. Donovan Mitchell (16%)

T5. Bam Adebayo (16%)

T7. Zion Williamson (13.3%)

T7. Jamal Murray (13.3%)

T9. Ben Simmons (12%)

T9. Brandon Ingram (12%)

T11. Jaylen Brown (4%)

T11. De'Aaron Fox (4%)

13. Karl-Anthony Towns (1.3%)

 

Wow. Lots to digest here. The top three are tough to argue, but 4-7 is where it gets interesting. Bam is a stud defender, but we’re talkin about Zion here! Y’know, the first overall pick… tabbed by some as the next LeBron… 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists ain’t took shabby for a rook!

One exec had the following to say about Zion:

“He’s just a special player inside the arc who’s an elite finisher. Offensively, he can finish at an elite rate. He’s one of the best finishers behind Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and LeBron (James). He can hit the open man. He’s so physically dominant. His shooting shouldn’t be a problem, but we’ll see. I think he’s always going to be hurt, though.”

That last sentence is the only issue. Zion tore his right lateral meniscus and had arthroscopic right knee surgery before the season. That’s a tough injury for a 285 pound body to come back from. Even with just 24 games under his belt, the 20-year-old managed to crack the NBA’s All-Rookie Team.

 

Also- can we acknowledge how low KAT is on the list?! Everyone will have a different opinion on these kinds of things but it is worth noting Zion was voted outside of the top five, especially behind the player taken one spot after him.

(H/T Hoopshype)