In each NBA draft, there are players who will shine and there are ones who will succumb under the bright lights whenever they step foot on an NBA court. Those who succeed often become stars in the league while some end up as busts.
In today’s list, we will select five young NBA players who will become stars and five who are busts. We will exclude young stars who were already selected to play in the all-star game such as LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.
We will solely focus on young players who are still trying to make a name in the league and have been playing in the NBA for the past few years.
Future Star: Cade Cunningham
As the number one overall pick by the Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cunningham was NBA-ready right from the start. A 6’6″ point guard, he may not have the athleticism to jump out of the gym but the savvy floor general can score in all levels on the court.
His passing is a severely underrated part of his game. Detroit now has a young stud to lead them in the future. His name may not be common among NBA fans, but there’s no doubt that Cunningham will make the Pistons relevant again a few years from now.
Bust: James Wiseman
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Wiseman was once considered a can’t-miss prospect by many analysts before he came into the NBA. There was a lot of hype when he was selected by the Warriors as the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, Wiseman was never integrated well by the coaches of the Warriors due to their pursuit of another championship. He was often benched and only got garbage time minutes which severely hampered his development as a player. Today, he’s still getting DNPs while playing for the lowly Pistons.
Future Star: Jalen Green
Green is a natural-born scorer. The huge problem was his shot selection and consistency back when he was still a rookie. But his development has been steady and is looking like a future star in a Rockets jersey.
Green has one of the craziest hops in the league right and once he gets hot, it’s quite hard to stop his rhythm. He still has some development to do in order to become a much more consistent player but it is basically a lock to call him an all-star in the future.
Bust: Aleksej Pokusevski
Pokusevski was supposed to become Kristaps Porzingis 2.0 for OKC but that projection came flat for them so far. Aside from his inconsistencies as a player, he often looks outmatched whenever he is on the floor.
There are some games where he might convince people that he has what it takes to become a star in the league but those moments are a rarity. He will still get minutes because OKC is patient with his progress, but there’s just no flame in his candle for now.
Future Star: Josh Giddey
The Australian-born Giddey has been a revelation for the up-and-coming OKC squad. His playstyle meshes well with their young star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. What we like about Giddey is that he doesn’t force things on the floor. He’s a young guy with an insanely high basketball IQ.
In addition, Giddey can also rebound and pass at a high rate. He is deceivingly strong and fast which he uses as an advantage to outsmart opponents on a nightly basis.
Bust: James Bouknight
As the 11th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Bouknight only had minimal improvement in his game so far. He’s constantly out of the Hornets rotation and spends a lot of time in their G-League team, the Greensboro Swarm.
Failing to get some minutes on a bad team like the Hornets is a huge red flag if we’re being honest about it. A change of scenario might help his confidence, but the future definitely looks bleak for Bouknight.
Future Star: Paolo Banchero
If we look at Orlando’s roster today, Banchero is their undisputed star in the lineup. There were initial talks that he doesn’t have a higher ceiling unlike his fellow draftmates in 2022, but Banchero squashed everything when he won Rookie of the Year.
His astounding rookie season led to a Team USA call-up and a roster spot in the FIBA World Cup this past summer. Banchero will continue to shine and if he continues his ascent, he’ll become an all-star sooner rather than later.
Bust: Jabari Smith Jr.
This may bite us in the future as it might be too soon to label Smith as a bust, but there were times that he looked completely lost while on the court last season. While he’s a big part of the Houston Rockets’ future, Smith’s game tends to fade and his inconsistency is a glaring problem right now.
He has the size and athleticism to compete but his passion for the game has been a subject for debate. Still, he’s young and has a ton of time to develop into a good player if he works for it.
Future Star: Franz Wagner
There is no doubt that Franz Wagner will become a star in the league. The 6’10” German can play four positions on the floor with ease. While Banchero is currently viewed as the future franchise player for this young Magic team, many pundits consider Wagner to have the higher ceiling between the two young studs.
He has a high basketball IQ and the athleticism to play against the best each and every game. Wagner also doesn’t back down from any challenge which is a great trait for a young star like him.
Bust: Jalen Suggs
We all feel bad for Suggs right now. He was once hailed as Orlando’s point guard of the future until Markelle Fultz finally came to his senses and balled out and took his spot away.
While Suggs remains a starter for the team, it’s quite obvious that their backup point guard, Cole Anthony, is a better player and floor general compared to him. Unless he finds a way out from the Magic, expect his playing time and confidence to deteriorate rapidly.
