NBA: Reacting to ESPN’s ‘Top 25 players under 25’ list
By Alex Saenz
NBA players under-ranked by ESPN
Ja Morant (#15) and Trae Young (#16)
These two point guards have been victims of their own success to some degree. I understand the (justified) criticisms of both. Ja Morant’s jumper has stagnated (in the last 73 games he’s shot 26.3% from deep), and with it so has Memphis’ overall offense. It’s looking like he’ll never be a difference-maker on the defensive end.
Trae Young’s individual brilliance has regressed as he (tries to) learn how to work with better teammates.
To me, Ja and Trae should be in the top 10 – which is where they were in last year’s rankings. Both have had prolonged stretches of carrying their teams as the lone shot-creator. How many other players that age have taken on that type of offensive burden?