CBS Sports rank top 25 NBA starts under 25
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 2:02 pm
Found on the Phog...
#17 - Andrew Wiggins (Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Age: 23
What CBS had to say: Wiggins regressed in a major way after signing a max contract extension last offseason, dipping from 23.6 points per game to 17.7 points and making shots at a lower percentage (48.1 percent effective field goal percentage, 33.1 percent from 3-point range). Part of that was because Wiggins struggled to adapt his often-passive personality to the alpha-dog personality of Jimmy Butler. One thing to note: Timberwolves sources do believe Wiggins' moribund defense -- he was named the "Least Defensive Player" by FiveThirtyEight.com after the 2015-16 season -- incrementally improved last season.
#2 -Joel Embiid (Center, Philadelphia 76ers)
Age: 24
What CBS had to say: The only other sub-25, non-Anthony Davis player to garner MVP votes last season (finished 12th), Embiid proved that the pain of the Sam Hinkie-era tanking was worth it. In his first (mostly) healthy season, Embiid averaged 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds, and while his 3-point percentage dipped, he's still a defensively dominant big man who can score from anywhere. Embiid's impact on the 76ers was monstrous; his net rating of plus-11.6 was one of the best in the NBA.
#17 - Andrew Wiggins (Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves)
Age: 23
What CBS had to say: Wiggins regressed in a major way after signing a max contract extension last offseason, dipping from 23.6 points per game to 17.7 points and making shots at a lower percentage (48.1 percent effective field goal percentage, 33.1 percent from 3-point range). Part of that was because Wiggins struggled to adapt his often-passive personality to the alpha-dog personality of Jimmy Butler. One thing to note: Timberwolves sources do believe Wiggins' moribund defense -- he was named the "Least Defensive Player" by FiveThirtyEight.com after the 2015-16 season -- incrementally improved last season.
#2 -Joel Embiid (Center, Philadelphia 76ers)
Age: 24
What CBS had to say: The only other sub-25, non-Anthony Davis player to garner MVP votes last season (finished 12th), Embiid proved that the pain of the Sam Hinkie-era tanking was worth it. In his first (mostly) healthy season, Embiid averaged 22.9 points and 11.0 rebounds, and while his 3-point percentage dipped, he's still a defensively dominant big man who can score from anywhere. Embiid's impact on the 76ers was monstrous; his net rating of plus-11.6 was one of the best in the NBA.