It’s not easy to get into the NBA Hall of Fame. There’s a long, long list of great players – Shawn Kemp, Kevin Johnson, Larry Foust, Marques Johnson, and Chauncey Billups, to name a few – that have, at least not yet, gotten the nod.
But what about current players? Well, we know that names like Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry are certain to be there, and it shouldn’t be long to wait, as they are coming to the end of their careers. Yet, there are plenty of stars across the league who could make a case to be worthy.
As for the younger players, it’s not just as certain. Anything can happen in a career, including devastating injuries, that can derail chances to be named in the Hall. Yet, as things stand, we think the seven players below are on the right track. All are aged 24 or under in the 2025/26 season.
1. Victor Wembanyama
He is the clear No. 1. He is still just 22, averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this season, while also leading the league in blocks. He’s transformed San Antonio into a contender in this season’s NBA playoffs betting odds. The Hall case here is simple: he looks like the future of the NBA, and he is already knocking on the door of being considered the world’s best player. We are talking Kobe-Lebron-Byrd levels of greatness.
2. Anthony Edwards
Edwards is one of the safest shots in this group, provided his career stays on the same level. He was 24 in 2025–26, averaged 27.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, and already had the profile of a multi-time All-Star, All-NBA-level franchise star. He has both the numbers and the personality to be considered a future Hall of Famer. He’s the business.
3. Evan Mobley
Mobley gets the edge for third because his résumé already has serious substance. Hall voters tend to reward elite defenders more when they also anchor winning teams, and Mobley is building exactly that kind of case. He might need a bit of success with the Cavs – or somewhere else – to completely seal the deal, but he looks like a great shout.
4. Cade Cunningham
Cade’s trajectory has become much more convincing. He is 24 and has become the engine of a strong Detroit team. Big scoring, high assist numbers, and franchise-leader responsibility at this age make him feel like a player who could rack up loads of All-Star and All-NBA seasons. It will be interesting to see how he fares with Detroit in the Playoffs.
5. Paolo Banchero
Banchero is still only 23, and the offensive foundation is already there. In 2025–26 he was again producing at an elite level, and his early-career profile looks good. He is not as decorated as the players above him on this list, but he has the goods to start racking up the accolades.
6. Chet Holmgren
Often overlooked because of Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s presence as a teammate, Holmgren has a very plausible Hall route. He might need to step out of the shadow of SGA to be a lock for the Hall, but he will be hard to ignore if he keeps winning championships with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
7. Alperen Şengün
Şengün is a bit more of a wild card than the others on this list. He’s young and versatile, and he’s managed to amass almost 400 games for the Rockets by the age of 23. The two-time All-Star could be considered Turkey’s greatest basketball player at some point. A brilliant player, and we might even say he has been somewhat underrated.
