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Ranking The Top NBA Players By Age: Age 25

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 16, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) talks to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) reacts after his three point basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Jae Crowder

On such a well-balanced team like the Boston Celtics, it’s hard to tell who the most important player is. Is it their leading scorer and feisty fan favorite, Isaiah Thomas? Is it the more well-rounded Avery Bradley? Is it the jack-of-all-trades, Evan Turner? My humble submission: two-way stud Jae Crowder, who didn’t quite have the numbers to join Thomas as an All-Star.

On the season, Crowder is averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, but there’s no doubt those numbers would be even better if this team wasn’t so balanced on both ends of the floor. Putting up career highs in almost every category, Crowder’s offensive progress has made him an intrinsically important starter for a team fighting for the third seed in the East.

He’s only shooting 44.5 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from three-point range, but Crowder makes those little plays that often mean the difference between winning and losing, especially on the defensive end where he plays a large part in Boston’s fourth ranked defense.

Next: No. 7