NBA: Top 25 Players Under 25 Years Old

May 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Kyrie Irving (2) after a 106-101 win over the Chicago Bulls in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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June 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-100 in overtime for a 1-0 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Center

Age: 24

2014-15 Slash Line: .547/.000/.641

2014-15 Season Averages: 26.8 MPG, 8.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 0.7 BPG

Accolades: 2012 All-Rookie Second Team

Tristan Thompson won the basketball community over during the 2015 NBA Finals. The Canadian big man was everywhere, attacking the defensive and offensive glass with a Dennis Rodman-like fire.

Thompson still has an abundance of work to do, but he’s begun to accelerate his development process.

In 20 postseason games in 2015, Thompson averaged 9.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.4 offensive boards and 1.2 blocks in 36.4 minutes of action. He shot 55.8 percent from the field and 58.5 percent from the free throw line.

In the NBA Finals specifically, Thompson put up 10.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in an energetic 40.8 minutes played per contest.

Thompson’s combination of size, strength, tenacity and endurance is hard to find. His offensive game and defensive fundamentals need improvement, but Thompson’s rebounding alone makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Anyone who can average an efficient and legitimately important double-double in the NBA Finals deserves hype.

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