Ranking the 25 Youngest NBA Players

[SportsTicker]

It's normal to rank each year's draft, with do-overs and debating steals. Because the NBA's change in rules regarding high schoolers, those rankings are a bit skewed. A list of the 25 youngest players has representatives from the last three drafts: 2005, 2006, and 2007. So rather than rank them by draft, I decided to try ranking them by age...who are the best among the youngest. It's skewed a bit towards big men, but so is the NBA. The number in parentheses is their ranking in age.

Ranking the 25 youngest players in the NBA:

1. Andrew Bynum (7)

2. Kevin Durant (1)

3. Greg Oden (4)

4. Yi Jianlian (6)

5. Martell Webster (17)

6. Sean Williams (22)

7. Jordan Farmar (19)

8. Andray Blatche (24)

9. Jeff Green (23)

10. Louis Williams (21)

11. Mike Conley (8)

12. Tyrus Thomas (25)

13. Daequan Cook (13)

14. Javaris Crittendon (5)

15. CJ Miles (14)

16. Thaddeus Young (2)

17. Ian Mahinmi (20)

18. Spencer Hawes (3)

19. Amir Johnson (12)

20. Brandan Wright (9)

21. Julian Wright (10)

22. Wilson Chandler (11)

23. Kyrylo Fesenko (18)

24. Josh McRoberts (15)

25. Taurean Green (19)

 

[Kid Chocolate]

Is this just a subjective list, or did you use some sort of criterion to rank them, like a specific statistical set?

 

[o.iatlhawksfan]

eww you have 3 Lakers on there.

 

[CelticBalla32]

I have no idea what system you're using, but whatever it is - it doesn't make any sense. Josh McRoberts? Kyrylo Fesenko? CJ Miles? Ian Mahinmi? Thaddeus Young? Taurean Green? Wilson Chandler? Either these guys aren't ready or shouldn't be here whatsoever. Numbers 12-25 have no business being on this list, and same goes to Andray Blatche, Jordan Farmar, and possibly Louis Williams.

Then you've got Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, etc. all missing? This doesn't make any sense to me. Please explain.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 7 2008, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have no idea what system you're using, but whatever it is - it doesn't make any sense. Josh McRoberts? Kyrylo Fesenko? CJ Miles? Ian Mahinmi? Thaddeus Young? Taurean Green? Wilson Chandler? Either these guys aren't ready or shouldn't be here whatsoever.

Then you've got Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, etc. all missing? This doesn't make any sense to me. Please explain.</div>



The sample is the 25 youngest players in the league.

As for the ranking, I'm still trying to figure out what criterion is being used to rank them.

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Jan 7 2008, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The sample is the 25 youngest players in the league.

As for the ranking, I'm still trying to figure out what criterion is being used to rank them.</div>

I'm sure it's a subjective ranking.

Talking about players by age rather than by draft class is a really smart idea. I'd be interested to see what this list looked like based on some more objective criteria.

 

[spartannj]

wouldn't you have to leave Oden off the list since he has yet to actually play in the NBA?

 

[pegs]

WTF I should delete this thread before any Lakers fans make their way over here...

 

[Shapecity]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Jan 7 2008, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>WTF I should delete this thread before any Lakers fans make their way over here...</div>

Too late.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Jan 7 2008, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182 @ Jan 7 2008, 01:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>WTF I should delete this thread before any Lakers fans make their way over here...</div>

Too late.

</div>
Sheesh.

 

[Lavalamp]

Lakers with Bynum, J-Critt, and J-Farm have the most youngest talent, if they got a talented PF in the next draft they'd be pretty set for the future.

 

[SportsTicker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 7 2008, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have no idea what system you're using, but whatever it is - it doesn't make any sense. Josh McRoberts? Kyrylo Fesenko? CJ Miles? Ian Mahinmi? Thaddeus Young? Taurean Green? Wilson Chandler? Either these guys aren't ready or shouldn't be here whatsoever. Numbers 12-25 have no business being on this list, and same goes to Andray Blatche, Jordan Farmar, and possibly Louis Williams.

Then you've got Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, etc. all missing? This doesn't make any sense to me. Please explain.</div>

<span style="color:#ff0000">***********************. </span>It's my ranking of the 25 youngest players in the NBA. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo are not among the 25 youngest players. Got it?

 

[o.iatlhawksfan]

I get it, i still woudn't put Bynem at one tho.

 

[Black Republican]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jan 7 2008, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Then you've got Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo, etc. all missing? This doesn't make any sense to me. Please explain.</div>
Rondo? You gotta be kidding me.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I had it reversed.

 

[Jumpman]

Bynum wouldn't go before Durant or Oden.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Bynum ahead of Oden and Durant? Come on, NetIncome.

 

[herox42]

I don't care much about objectivity when it comes to rankings. I feel that all rankings have a touch of subjectivity as norms and standards are products of individual biases. Anyhow, ranking the 25 youngest players in the NBA does look fun. However, I haven't seen a number of these guys play. So I'm ranking top ten of the 25 youngest NBA players intead. [I shouldn't really put Oden on the list, but it's just quite a waste not having him there. I used his performance in college to measure his game.)

Here goes:

1. Durant
2. Bynum
3. Oden
4. Yi
5. Tyrus Thomas
6. Webster
7. Sean Williams
8. Farmar
9. Green
10. Louis Williams

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jan 7 2008, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's normal to rank each year's draft, with do-overs and debating steals. Because the NBA's change in rules regarding high schoolers, those rankings are a bit skewed. A list of the 25 youngest players has representatives from the last three drafts: 2005, 2006, and 2007. So rather than rank them by draft, I decided to try ranking them by age...who are the best among the youngest. It's skewed a bit towards big men, but so is the NBA. The number in parentheses is their ranking in age.

Ranking the 25 youngest players in the NBA:

1. Andrew Bynum (7)

2. Kevin Durant (1)

3. Greg Oden (4)

4. Yi Jianlian (6)

5. Martell Webster (17)

6. Sean Williams (22)

7. Jordan Farmar (19)

8. Andray Blatche (24)

9. Jeff Green (23)

10. Louis Williams (21)

11. Mike Conley (8)

12. Tyrus Thomas (25)

13. Daequan Cook (13)

14. Javaris Crittendon (5)

15. CJ Miles (14)

16. Thaddeus Young (2)

17. Ian Mahinmi (20)

18. Spencer Hawes (3)

19. Amir Johnson (12)

20. Brandan Wright (9)

21. Julian Wright (10)

22. Wilson Chandler (11)

23. Kyrylo Fesenko (18)

24. Josh McRoberts (15)

25. Taurean Green (19)</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (herox42 @ Jan 8 2008, 04:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't care much about objectivity when it comes to rankings. I feel that all rankings have a touch of subjectivity as norms and standards are products of individual biases. Anyhow, ranking the 25 youngest players in the NBA does look fun. However, I haven't seen a number of these guys play. So I'm ranking top ten of the 25 youngest NBA players intead. [I shouldn't really put Oden on the list, but it's just quite a waste not having him there. I used his performance in college to measure his game.)

Here goes:

1. Durant
2. Bynum
3. Oden
4. Yi
5. Tyrus Thomas
6. Webster
7. Sean Williams
8. Farmar
9. Green
10. Louis Williams</div>

I don't see how anyone could arrive at the conclusion that Andrew Bynum is better than Greg Oden, much less the conclusion that Kevin Durant is.

I'd probably have Bynum third, behind Oden and Durant, respectively.

Hell, I'll just do my top 10 -

1) Greg Oden - Seems like everyone has forgotten about the player he is since he's been innactive.
2) Kevin Durant
3) Andrew Bynum
... Big drop-off ...
4) Mike Conley, Jr.
5) Yi Jianlian
6) Martell Webster
7) Sean Williams
8) Bad Thad (Young)
9) Jeff Green
10) Spencer Hawes

 

[GrandKenyon6]

I would take Bynum over Durant every day of the week and twice on Tuesdays.

 

[Chutney]

Are you talking about what they've shown so far or what you expect to see from them in the future? If its the latter, I don't agree with putting Bynum so high.

 

[CelticBalla32]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetIncome @ Jan 7 2008, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="color:#ff0000">***********************. </span>It's my ranking of the 25 youngest players in the NBA. Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams, Danny Granger, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rajon Rondo are not among the 25 youngest players. Got it?</div>

I didn't understand at first. Chill.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Republican @ Jan 7 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Rondo? You gotta be kidding me.</div>

Not completely out of the question.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

NetIncome is an old curmudgeon, don't worry about him, he's always cranky.

 

[cpawfan]

Kid Chocolate, this must be a very difficult thread for you considering your hatred of Durant and Bynum

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jan 8 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kid Chocolate, this must be a very difficult thread for you considering your hatred of Durant and Bynum</div>


I was thinking that before when looking at the list, which is why I'm not making a ranking, can't bring myself to it.

I don't hate Durant, I just think he's severely overrated.

 

[herox42]

I'm ranking with what they've done so far. Oden is the exception. It's most probable that he's better than Bynum (or even Durant), but he just hasn't played an NBA game yet. I just can't put him high on a list when he hasn't done anything yet. He has no product in the NBA so I put Bynum and Durant (both producing quite well now) ahead of them.