12 Young NBA Players Bound to Lead the Next Generation of Stars

Last year after the NBA All-Star Game, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said that a new generation of younger players were set to take over the NBA.

He's right.

The amount of quality young talent currently in the NBA right now exceeds that of any other time in the league. When stars such as Bryant begin to see their careers wind down, the league will be in very good shape.

Here are 12 guys all under the age of 25 that will lead the NBA's next generation of stars.

Just Missed the Cut

Rookies

Kyrie Irving

Kemba Walker

Jimmer Fredette

Derrick Williams

Others

Brandon Jennings

O.J. Mayo

Michael Beasley

Thaddeus Young

JaVale McGee

James Harden

Serge Ibaka

Jrue Holliday

Danilo Gallinari

There are plenty of other quality candidates, but here's a look at the 12 best.

DeMarcus Cousins

At 21 years of age, Cousins is coming off a terrific rookie season in which he averaged over 14 points and eight rebounds per game.

He's an extremely talented post player who can overpower most opponents. His game needs some work, but Cousins has what it takes to have a dominant NBA career.

Brook Lopez

Lopez is 23 years old, is very talented at the offensive end of the floor and possesses a polished post game for this point in his career.

He may not be in New Jersey for long, but wherever he winds up, he not only brings scoring (20.4 ppg last season), but also a knack for crashing the offensive glass.

Tyreke Evans

Evans wasn't as good during his second season as he was during his first, but he still managed to put together a solid season.

He's a dynamic and explosive point guard and at age 22, he's still getting better. Sacramento is forming a nice young nucleus, and Evans has a chance to put together a solid young career.

Eric Gordon

Gordon has emerged as one of the better young players on a good, young Clippers team. He's on his way to New Orleans, but he's bringing a solid offensive game.

Gordon has an excellent perimeter game and is explosive getting to the rim.

He's only 22, and his best days are certainly ahead of him.

Andrew Bynum

Bynum is another young guy who's mixed up in trade rumors. As for his game, the 24-year-old is a beast down on the block.

He's also improved as a defender and a rebounder and eventually could put together a complete all-around game.

So far, injuries and immaturity have held him back, but he has all the ability in the world to become great.

Russell Westbrook

At 23, Westbrook is one of the best young point guards in the NBA.

He's a tremendous athlete who can get to the basket at will. His weakness is his perimeter game, but even that improved greatly last season.

Westbrook is a stat-sheet stuffer who not only scores but rebounds and dishes the ball effectively as well. Playing on one of the league's most talented young teams, there is nothing but upside for Westbrook.

Kevin Love

Love emerged as a force last season in Minnesota, as the 23-year-old put up a monster season in which he averaged 20.2 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.

Very few young players dominate the glass the way Love can. Offensively, he not only can score on the block, but can extend with an above-average jumper for a big man.

If Love keeps putting up numbers the way he did last season, the sky is the limit for him.

John Wall

Wall's rookie season showed that the 21-year-old has a ways to go, but he showed glimpses that he could become special.

He's strong and has blinding speed and is close to unstoppable in transition.

A rookie season that saw Wall post numbers of 16.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game are only going to increase in the next few years.

Stephen Curry

Curry is one of the fun players to watch play the game.

He's only 23, and his shooting touch is outstanding. He's an above-average all-around point guard, but people pay to see Curry score, and he's as gifted as a young scorer as there is in the NBA.

There is nothing but good things ahead for Curry.

Blake Griffin

At 22 years old, Griffin is an absolute freak of nature.

He's as physically gifted as there is a player in the NBA. He can jump through the building and is an explosive finisher.

Griffin also rebounds with the best of them, posting a first season of 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.

Griffin was so exciting and dominant as a rookie, but the scary part is that there is room for improvement.

Derrick Rose

Rose is only 23 and already has an MVP under his belt, becoming the youngest MVP in league history.

As a point guard, he's the complete package. He's a lights-out scorer and a tremendous athlete. He's another of the young generation of guards who excels in transition.

In his short time in the league, Rose has improved as a defender and rebounder as well.

If anything needs work, it's his perimeter game, but if Rose improves there as well, he may want to make more room on his mantle for more MVP trophies.

Kevin Durant

In his four years in the league, Durant has already won a scoring title and is the big cog in making the Oklahoma City Thunder a contender in the Western Conference.

On the floor, he's gifted in everything he does and his game is very smooth.

Off the court, he captures fans with his humble and quiet personality.

Durant has everything a superstar in this league should have and is poised to be one of the young superstars who will carry the NBA's next generation.