The best young players in NBA 2K25

These youngsters came to play.

NBA 2K25 promo art, featuring Victor Wembenyama staring ahead while fans cheer in the background.
Image via 2K Games

Many players are entering the NBA as teenagers, which means we have more young superstars in the league than ever before. We’ll take a look at the best young players in NBA 2K25, as well as how the game rates the latest intake of rookies.

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Victor Wembanyama is arguably the most exciting first pick in the draft since LeBron James, but the French phenom is not the only fledgling superstar rising through the ranks in the NBA. A surprising number of teams are led by youngsters, and even more surprising is how many of those teams made the playoffs last season.

Don’t take us on our word, the NBA 2K25 ratings of the best players under 25 speak for themselves. Our top 10 is actually a top 11 if you look closely, but we couldn’t find it in ourselves to come up with a niche criteria to keep one of these young talents out for the sake of keeping the numbers tight.

Top 10 young players in NBA 2K25

  • Anthony Edwards – 93 OVR, Minnesota Timberwolves, 23 years old
  • Victor Wembanyama – 91 OVR, San Antonio Spurs, 20 years old
  • Tyrese Haliburton – 90 OVR, Indiana Pacers, 24 years old
  • Tyrese Maxey – 89 OVR, Philadelphia 76ers, 23 years old
  • Paolo Banchero – 89 OVR, Orlando Magic, 21 years old
  • Zion Williamson – 88 OVR, New Orleans Pelicans, 24 years old
  • Lonzo Ball – 87 OVR, Charlotte Hornets, 23 years old
  • Chet Holmgren – 87 OVR, Oklahoma City Thunder, 22 years old
  • Franz Wagner – 86 OVR, Orlando Magic, 23 years old
  • Cade Cunningham – 86 OVR, Detroit Pistons, 22 years old
  • Jalen Williams – 86 OVR, Oklahoma City Thunder, 23 years old

The 2024 draft didn’t have its own version of Wembanyama, but we’re sure his compatriots Risacher and Sarr, who went first and second in the draft, are hoping to make a similar impact. Their NBA 2K25 ratings are already solid, but work will need to be done during the season to get these numbers up.

LeBron James with his back turned in a white Los Angeles Lakers jersey in NBA 2K25
LeBron James’ son Bronny is among the rookies to join NBA 2K25‘s roster. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Top 10 rookies in NBA 2K25

  • Alexandre Sarr – 75 OVR, Washington Wizards, 19 years old
  • Zaccharie Risacher – 75 OVR, Atlanta Hawks, 19 years old
  • Stephon Castle – 73 OVR, San Antonio Spurs, 19 years old
  • Reed Sheppard – 73 OVR, Houston Rockets, 20 years old
  • Donovan Clingan – 73 OVR, Portland Trail Blazers, 20 years old
  • Matas Buzelis – 72 OVR, Chicago Bulls, 19 years old
  • Robert Dillingham – 72 OVR, Minnesota Timberwolves, 19 years old
  • Ronald Holland – 72 OVR, Detroit Pistons, 19 years old
  • Nikola Topic – 72 OVR, Oklahoma City Thunder, 19 years old
  • Zach Edey – 72 OVR, Memphis Grizzlies, 22 years old

The Lakers’ rookie duo of Dalton Knecht and Bronny James is rated 71 and 68, respectively. Not bad for a mid-first round and a late second-round pick, yet still slightly off what James’ father is rated at.

Author
Image of Kiril Stoilov
Kiril Stoilov
Dot Esports general gaming writer. Loves writing, games, and writing about games. Began working in the industry in 2018 with esports.com, before moving to earlygame.com, and later joining the Dot Esports staff. Though a single player gamer at heart, he can be seen noobing around CS:GO lobbies.