NBA: Ranking The League's Top 21-Year-Olds

Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 21

Nov 4, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass the ball in front of Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cameron Payne (22) dribbles in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Cameron Payne

Cameron Payne being phased out of Billy Donovan‘s rotation for Randy Foye is immensely frustrating, and I’m not even an Oklahoma City Thunder fan. In his rookie season, Payne was playing pretty great basketball after working his way into the primary backup guard slot in late December, helping make D.J. Augustin expendable at the trade deadline.

But the guy they brought in with that Augustin trade has been stealing Payne’s minutes, relegating the Thunder rook to a grand total of 61 minutes in seven appearances since the deal. But in January, Payne averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 assists in 17.3 minutes per game on 38.6 percent shooting from three-point range.

Me, watching Waiters, Roberson, and Singler (who played well tonight) play over Cam Payne and Anthony Morrow pic.twitter.com/pSM88bKGZh
— Cameron (@ThatManCam) March 4, 2016

On the season, Payne is only averaging 5.0 points and 1.8 assists per game, but he’s shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three-point range, which is far more efficient than what Foye or even Dion Waiters are posting right now.

With Foye already looking like a poor fit, it’s only a matter of time before Donovan wises up and puts this promising 21-year-old back in the lineup. Until that time, however, No. 14 is as high as Cameron Payne climbs in this group.

Next: No. 13