DRAFT: Who Are the Best NBA Players 25 and Under

September 18, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

On the Locked On NBA Game Night Podcast, hosts Ryland (Locked On Thunder) and Gavin Shaw (Locked On Knicks) conducted a draft of the best NBA players 25 and under, arguing that the league's current reservoir of young talent is historically deep. Their exercise was not just a ranking but a debate about how to evaluate players: do you prioritize proven playoff performance, raw upside, defensive impact, or the difficulty of a player's circumstances? The result was a draft board that sparked disagreement even between the two hosts, and a conversation that revealed just how many legitimate stars—and future stars—are already in the league.

The Top Tier: Wembanyama, Edwards, and Cunningham

The first pick was the easiest of the entire draft. Gavin selected Victor Wembanyama without hesitation, calling him "the most talented probably under 25 player we've seen in league history." The hosts acknowledged the only real question about Wembanyama is whether the Spurs can manage his minutes to keep him fresh for fourth quarters, but that caveat did nothing to diminish his status as the consensus number one.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of The Daily

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (01:32) **Drafting the NBA's Best Players 25 & Under** - The hosts introduce the premise: a snake draft of the top players aged 25 or younger, arguing this proves the league's unprecedented depth of young superstar talent.
2 (03:17) **#1 Pick: Victor Wembanyama** - The first pick is made, and the hosts debate Wembanyama's historic potential and the one remaining question about his game.
3 (05:02) **#2 Pick: Anthony Edwards** - The hosts select Edwards and discuss his remarkable development from a raw athlete into a complete offensive weapon.
4 (07:25) **#3 Pick: Cade Cunningham** - A pick is made, and the hosts defend Cunningham's reputation by contextualizing his difficult circumstances in Detroit.
5 (08:33) **#4 Pick: Cooper Flagg** - The hosts make a bold selection of a player who hasn't played an NBA game, arguing his ceiling justifies the high ranking.
6 (11:25) **#5 Pick: Scottie Barnes** - A pick is made based on his playoff performance and two-way potential, with one major caveat about his shooting.
7 (14:47) **#6 Pick: Tyrese Maxey** - The hosts select Maxey and explain why his upcoming season could be his biggest leap yet, given a more favorable environment.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gavin Shaw

Show Notes

The NBA's youth movement reaches historic heights as Victor Wembanyama dominates the top of a loaded under-25 draft board. Can Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Maxey, or Cade Cunningham push their teams closer to a championship, or will emerging stars like Cooper Flagg and Dillon Harper redefine the league's power balance? Gavin Schall and Rylan Stiles debate the merits, upside, and future potential of the league’s best young talent, spotlighting All-Star trajectories and elite defender credentials.

Key discussions compare the impact of Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, J-Dub, LaMelo Ball, and Chet Holmgren—who’s the real cornerstone for the next NBA dynasty? The episode also covers prospect snubs, rising rookies threatening to crack superstardom, and the strategic dilemmas facing teams built around young cores. NBA fans get a fresh look at who’s ready to shape the future—and which fanbases will feel the sting of being left out.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.

Betterhelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

Aura Cybersecurity
Start your free trial today at https://aura.com/aware.
Protect yourself now.

Square
Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/NBA ! #squarepod

FanDuel
Make this Your Most Rewarding Season Ever with FanDuel. Get $350 in Bonus Bets — GUARANTEED — when you bet five dollars every day for seven days. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.