FanSided released our 25-under-25 rankings for the upcoming season, ranking the top 25 players under the age of 25 in the NBA this season. The Hawks were given the praise they deserve in these rankings, with three players on the list, tied for second-most among the league. The Detroit Pistons had four players make the list, while the Orlando Magic were the only other team with three appearances.
The three players selected for the rankings were Jalen Johnson at 11, Dyson Daniels at 13, and Zaccharie Risacher at 25.
What the rankings got right, and wrong, about these three players
Jalen Johnson is a difficult player to rank. After two seasons of mostly unremarkable play to begin his career, the North Carolina product took a massive developmental leap in his third year. In his fourth season, he was on the path to taking the leap from intriguing young player to 23-year-old All-Star before falling to a season-ending torn labrum.
In his two years since breaking out as a potential star, Johnson has played just 99 games. The key word that plagues all rankings and projections involving the fifth-year Hawk is “if.” If he can play 60+ games this season; If he can prove his flashes of brilliance are real; If he can lead the Hawks to success.
This is because Johnson’s talent is undeniable, but the sample is limited. When ranking players, a limited sample size poses a difficult challenge to address: How do you compare proven production to tantalizing upside?
FanSided made the decision to drop Johnson below other second fiddles, Franz Wagner and Amen Thompson, in the rankings. While there is an argument for both players to be ranked above eleven, expect Johnson to eclipse these two players next season.
Quinn Everts, who wrote the article on Johnson, concluded his player recap with, “We at FanSided also see what he's capable of; and that's why he's likely to be a mainstay on our annual 25-under-25 list — and a pivotal fifth season could raise him way up in the next installment.”
Dyson Daniels went from unranked to 13th on the list, a fitting bump for the 2025 Most Improved Player. Where Johnson is an impossible player to rank in a way fair to both him and his competition, Daniels is perhaps the most cut-and-dry ranking on the list.
You know exactly what you’re getting from Daniels when he steps on the floor: elite defense and less-than-confident offense. The young Australian shattered what it meant to be a promising young defender last season, totaling the highest steals per game mark in over 30 years and lapping the competition in deflection stats. While his three point shot is shaky, his offensive skill set allows him to survive despite this weakness.
Daniels is ranked one spot above Scottie Barnes and one spot below Cooper Flagg. His skill set as an elite role player will never lend itself to an MVP or the top spot on these rankings, but you would rather have Daniels than a mediocre first option, such as Barnes. One of the youngest members of the All-Defensive First Team in recent memory, Daniels has a bright future ahead of him.
Zaccharie Risacher is the final player to crack these rankings, finishing 25th and one spot behind Dereck Lively II. Risacher is a rare first overall draft pick to fly under the radar, ending the season on a heater with less media coverage than expected.
Like Daniels, Risacher does not profile as a star player. At least, he doesn’t yet. The Frenchman was drafted for his impressive three point ability and physical frame, despite his lack of proven offensive creation. Risacher, however, went to the NBA from professional play in France rather than college.
While he has never been the lead player on a team, he has been playing pro basketball since he was 16. Risacher has an instinctive understanding of how to be a winning player, having played as a role player during his formative years. Considering his rapidly improving isolation scoring ability, Risacher could soar up these rankings like Johnson next season.
The Hawks have one of the most exciting young teams in the league and will be a playoff team for the foreseeable future. We look forward to seeing the young squad in action for their opening tip tomorrow at 7:30 Eastern.