Hoops Habit
Fansided

Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 20

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots around New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots around New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 12
Next
NBA
Apr 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Dante Exum

Dante Exum was robbed of the chance to build upon his rookie season due to an ACL tear he sustained over the summer, but it’s no coincidence that the Utah Jazz became the stingiest defense in the league last year after head coach Quin Snyder moved him and Rudy Gobert into the starting lineup.

Obviously the emergence of the Stifle Tower and the Enes Kanter trade played the largest role there, but Exum is an excellent defender who averaged a meager 4.8 points and 2.4 assists per game as a rookie on underwhelming shooting splits of .349/.314/.625.

However, Exum made progress as the year wore on, and he’s still incredibly young. If he can continue to improve his ball handling and playmaking out of pick-and-rolls, as well as develop a serviceable jump shot, he’ll be on track for a bright future in this league once he’s healthy again.

Next: No. 7