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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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Mar 10, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) shoots the ball over New York Knicks guard Shane Larkin (0) and center Andrea Bargnani (77) during the first half at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Nos. 26-21

26. P.J. Hairston — It’s entirely possible that P.J. Hairston doesn’t have what it takes to make it in this league, as his disappointing stint with the Charlotte Hornets came to an end at the trade deadline. But he’s still averaged 6.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game this season, and at only 22 years old, perhaps we can overlook his 29.5 three-point percentage for now.

25. James Michael McAdoo — It’s entirely possible that if James Michael McAdoo didn’t play for the league-leading Golden State Warriors, he’d be a backup big in somebody else’s regular rotation. Whenever he’s gotten decent minutes, he’s surpassed his season averages of 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

24. Trey Burke — He’s only 23 years old, but when you’re getting benched for the likes of Raul Neto and Shelvin Mack, chances are you’re not a very good NBA player. Burke is averaging 10.8 points per game in his third season, but he’s only shooting 41.5 percent from the floor and 34.4 percent from three-point range — both of which are career highs. No wonder he’s been phased out of the rotation for the Utah Jazz.

23. Shane Larkin — Larkin definitely shouldn’t be a starting NBA point guard, which is why his tenure in that spot lasted a grand total of five games. The Brooklyn Nets were left without alternatives after Jarrett Jack tore his ACL, but they still went with Donald Sloan as the starter over Larkin, who is averaging 6.7 points and 4.0 assists in 21.0 minutes per game.

22. Raul Neto — For an injury-depleted backcourt missing Dante Exum and Alec Burks, Raul Neto filled in as the starter for awhile, jumping Trey Burke in the rotation before eventually being replaced by Shelvin Mack. The Jazz still don’t have a solution at that position, but Neto has fared quite well for a rookie, averaging 6.1 points and 2.3 assists per game on 39.6 percent shooting from deep.

21. Allen Crabbe — Unlike Harry Potter Crabbe and his similarly useless counterpart Goyle, Allen Crabbe is one of the more underrated backups in the league. He’s averaging 10.4 points in 26.0 minutes per game for a surprisingly successful Portland Trail Blazers team, shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 37.3 percent from three-point range.

Next: No. 20