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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 23

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 3, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks over Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Magic defeated the Pelicans 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks over Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Magic defeated the Pelicans 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) dribbles against the Houston Rockets in the second half at Toyota Center. Pistons won 123 to 114. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Remember how critical everyone was of the 2013 NBA Draft class, calling it one of the weakest in NBA history? Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, like many of the players taken in the first round of that draft, is doing his part to shatter that inaccurate narrative in his third season.

The Detroit Pistons are still fighting for a playoff spot, but KCP is having his best season yet, averaging 14.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He’s only shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 30.2 percent from three-point range, but there’s no question his efficiency might go up if Stan Van Gundy didn’t have to ride him so hard on a nightly basis (36.7 minutes per game).

Caldwell-Pope still hasn’t proven he can be an efficient shooter, but he’s already a pesky wing defender who gave even Stephen Curry problems. If Detroit can bolster their bench over the offseason and ease KCP’s load on both ends of the floor, we could see a career shooting year from this 23-year-old next season.

Next: No. 8