Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few seasons, you would certainly have noticed that there is a new generation of point guards in the NBA looking to take over the league. In the past decade, future Hall of Fame players like Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, and Kyrie Irving among others controlled the position and defined what it should be. These young point guards are doing the same by going toe to toe with their already established counterparts and putting their talent on display. Players like Ja Morant and Donovan Mitchell are walking highlight reels while others like Luka Doncic and Ben Simmons have been lauded for their versatility and basketball IQ. Below are 5 five young point guards who have shown that they too might be heading for the Hall of Fame when it’s all said and done.
1. Luka Doncic
- Age: 23
- Team: Dallas Mavericks
- NBA Draft: 3rd Overall – 2018
- Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m)
- Weight: 230 lbs (104 kg)
- Awards: NBA Rookie of the Year (2019), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019), 2x All NBA First Team (2020, 2021)
Unlike many others on this list, Luka Doncic had a professional career in Europe before he was drafted into the NBA. He was a member of the Real Madrid youth academy before he was promoted to the senior team in 2015. Luka made his debut at age 16 to become the club’s youngest player ever. He would go on to win several personal and team trophies before he declared for the NBA Draft in 2018.
On draft night, the Slovenian was selected 3rd overall and he wasted no time in showing the NBA what he was made of. His performances in his rookie season earned him the Rookie of the Year award. The subsequent year, he was named to the All-NBA First Team. He also made his first All-Star appearance that year.
Luka Doncic has continued to grow from strength to strength as the years have gone by, gaining plaudits for his exceptional size and strength as well as his all-around offensive ability. He has been described as a point guard with the ability of a power forward. What is remaining for him to accomplish is to have a decent playoff run and possibly win a championship.
Notable Accomplishments
- Most career triple-doubles by a teenager in NBA history.
- First player in NBA history to record a 30-point triple-double as a teenager.
- The youngest player in NBA history to lead the league outright in triple-doubles
- The youngest player in NBA history to record a 40-point triple-double in a playoff game.
2. Trae Young
- Age: 23
- Team: Atlanta Hawks
- NBA Draft: 5th Overall – 2018
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
- Weight: 164 lbs (74 kg)
- Awards: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019)
Trae Young’s father played basketball in college and professionally in Europe. While the older Young was not able to cut it in the NBA, his son appears to be on his way to greatness. Experts have described him as having elite court vision and being a crafty floater and finisher with a quick trigger from the outside.
Young started making a name for himself in college in 2017 when he tied the then-NCAA Division I record for single-game assists with 22. He went on to become the only player to ever lead the NCAA in both points and assists in a single season. In his first year in the NBA, Young was a unanimous selection to the 2019 NBA All-Rookie First Team. He gained the nickname Ice Trae because of how cool he was when it mattered the most. His performance was notably at its peak when the game was on the line. This was notably evident in his third year when he guided the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, averaging 28.8 points and 9.5 assists along the way.
3. De’Aaron Fox
- Age: 24
- Team: Sacramento Kings
- NBA Draft: 5th Overall – 2017
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m)
- Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
We all know how explosive Russell Westbrook can be on the fastbreak. He is considered one of the elites in that regard, however, De’Aaron Fox is a faster player than him. The Sacramento Kings point guard is known for his quickness, speed, and athleticism. While he had a slow start to life in the NBA, especially because he was exploited by bigger guards due to his small frame, he drastically improved during the 2018–2019 season, earning a nomination for the NBA Most Improved Player Award. He has continued to improve ever since, gaining a knack for intercepting passes and making quick rotations as well as being one of the best finishers around the basket.
4. Ja Morant
- Age: 22
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
- NBA Draft: 2nd Overall – 2019
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m)
- Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg)
- Awards: NBA Rookie of the Year (2020), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2020)
Ja Morant is another player from the younger generation of point guards whose athleticism often draws comparisons to Russell Westbrook. The South Carolina native has always had belief in his ability, however, not everyone saw it from the get-go. This was evident in the fact that he was lightly recruited out of high school by NCAA Division I programs. With an underdog mentality, he was able to rise from a little-known college freshman to be the first player in NCAA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus assists per game for a single season.
As a rookie in the NBA, Ja continued to be explosive, making sure he always featured on the highlight reels. It was no surprise when he was named NBA Rookie of the Year when the season came to an end. The following year, he got his team back into the playoffs for the first time in four years. With his leadership, skill, and him being healthy, and having the right pieces around him, the sky is the limit for the Grizzlies.
5. Donovan Mitchell
- Age: 25
- Team: Utah Jazz
- NBA Draft: 13th Overall – 2017
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
- Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)
- Awards: NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
What other chip on the shoulder does Donovan Mitchell need than being selected 13th overall in the NBA Draft. His exploits so far have made everyone who overlooked selecting him to regret their decision. He has improved his scoring every year since he entered the league. Whenever he is on the court, the young point guard creates instant problems for defenses.
If there is one thing that indicates that the Utah Jazz is happy and trusts in his talent and ability to lead them to success, it’s the fact that he was given a rookie maximum contract at the end of his third year. The young point guard’s ability to lead his team is evident for everyone to see. He is also a reliable scorer and playmaker who is looked at in the closing moments of games to make the right play.
Notable Mentions
- Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder
- LaMelo Ball – Charlotte Hornets
- D’Angelo Russell – Minnesota Timberwolves
3 Comments
Pingback: Anfernee Simons Girlfriend, Height, and Other Interesting Facts
Pingback: Recee Caldwell is De'Aaron Fox's Wife - Everything We Know About Her
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.