5 Takeaways and surprises from ESPN's top 25 NBA players of the 21st century ranking

Every summer, ESPN courts controversy with all-time or current top-player lists, which normally draws strong reactions from basketball fans and for good reason. ESPN's list of the top 25 NBA players of the 21st century got some things right and some things wrong, with some questionable decisions in between.

Some players may be ranked too high, and some may be underrated by ESPN. Keep that in mind as we delve into ESPN's top 25 players of the 21st century and come up with four takeaways and surprises.

Takeaways and surprises #5: Old school meets new school

Nowadays, the longevity of players is taken for granted. Superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant are all playing incredibly well into their mid-30s. That used to be around the time that superstars retired or began to ring chase. Instead, we're seeing players that would have previously missed out on playing against a newer generation go toe to toe with up-and-coming stars.

Tim Duncan, for instance, was drafted in 1997 but played long enough to play against then-future superstar Nikola Jokic for a couple of years. He entered the NBA in 2014 and Duncan retired in 2016. That's great for the game, given that the NBA has no shortage of stars to market. One of the NBA's younger superstars, Luka Doncic, has even cracked ESPN's list of the 25 greatest players of the 21st century, despite being just 25 years old and having only played six seasons.

Other players such as Anthony Edwards and possibly even Victor Wembanyama could join him when ESPN inevitably chooses the 30 best players of the 21st century in 2030. Ultimately, ESPN's list highlights the increasing longevity of NBA stars and the potential for young stars to make the cut the next time around.