5. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Considering his size, there were doubts that Trae Young would excel in the NBA. Well not only has he thrived, but he’s developed into one of the game’s brightest stars. Although the Atlanta Hawks struggle to win games, Young has been an offensive weapon, averaging just under 30 points per game while dishing out a mind-boggling 9.3 assists, both top five in the association.
The 21-year-old is also scoring more than 10 points more per night than his rookie season. Young has the fourth-highest usage rate in the league at 34.9 percent, which stands to reason. He’s the franchise star in Atlanta and even with his impressive performances on a nightly basis, they still need a few more pieces to be a contender.
Young posted 40-plus points on eleven separate occasions this season, including a 50-point night in late February against a very solid Heat team. He’s a fantastic 3-point shooter, but Young has also improved his game inside the paint, using his quickness and ball-handling skills to weave amongst bigs and finish. When it comes to creating opportunities, he’s arguably one of the best facilitators in the game today, sitting behind only LeBron James in assists this season.