The NBA plays host to a vast wealth of talented athletes, spanning every stage of their careers. From those in their prime, to those approaching the twilight of their tenures, to promising next-generation stars on the brink of or already breaking out.
A panel of top NBA Insiders at ESPN has curated a new list of young NBA stars they believe possess the best future potential—a rundown appropriately named the NBA 25 under 25.
Pinpointing a select cluster of young talent as the league's brightest rising stars is extremely challenging, especially as the NBA continues to grow younger through the draft. Without question, any such list will inevitably omit some notable names.
Look no further than one of the Toronto Raptors' own—24-year-old Canadian Raptors star RJ Barrett—who has been controversially left off the ESPN NBA 25 under 25 list, as interpreted by members of Raptors nation.
RJ Barrett was not included on ESPN's NBA 25 under 25 list
Fortunately for the Toronto Raptors, one of their franchise stars, Scottie Barnes, made the list—albeit at a disputed 11th position, trailing names like Tyrese Haliburton, Alperen Sengun, Evan Mobley, and Franz Wagner.
Of course, lists of this nature should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are merely a vessel for NBA opinion and discourse, but they are sure to spark conversation among fans of different franchises—both positive and negative.
Regarding RJ Barrett's exclusion from the list, it's difficult to comprehend the rationale, especially considering he has been arguably in Most Improved Player award conversations and demonstrating significant strides in his game when fully engaged.
However, let's pause for a moment to consider that last sentence: 'when fully engaged.'"
On his best nights, Barrett resembles a perennial All-Star candidate, brimming with franchise-altering potential. However, on his worst nights, he can appear utterly lost on the court, forcing ill-advised shots while his increasingly solid playmaking skills seem to vanish. As we discussed recently, RJ Barrett appears to be facing a peculiar dilemma: he thrives in home court settings but struggles when playing on the road.
The group of ESPN NBA Insiders—Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton, and Jeremy Woo—may have considered Barrett's inconsistencies, which could explain his absence from the list.
Nonetheless, one might observe that fellow 2019 draft class members Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, and Zion Williamson are included on the list, and a compelling argument can be made that Barrett has surpassed some of those names.
In simple terms, much of the motivation behind assigning certain names to their respective positions reflects their recent performances and the potential for further improvement in that regard.
RJ Barrett may have unfortunately found himself in the NBA purgatory of low-ceiling players, even as he navigates what is currently his most promising and productive season to date.
The lack of even an honorable mention underscores that Barrett is not highly regarded by some NBA insiders. This isn't particularly surprising, considering his long history as a polarizing player, both during his time with the Knicks and now with the Raptors.
However, one cannot overlook his growth. For any devoted Raptors fan who watches the games night after night, it’s clear that when RJ Barrett is on his game, the team appears to be a dominant force. His two-man game with Jakob Poeltl helped maintain the right energy during Scottie Barnes' injury absence, and once his co-star returned, Barrett demonstrated that he could be a reliable teammate alongside the versatile forward.
Unfortunately, the notion of proving the doubters wrong has long been associated with the Toronto Raptors and their players. Now, it falls to RJ Barrett to carry that chip on his shoulder as he continues his ascent to NBA stardom, aiming to make those who doubted his potential look foolish in hindsight.