10 Under 25: Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey Headline Top Young Guards Ranking

Ahead of Jalen Williams' second season and Josh Giddey's third, the Thunder will be able to look to the guard-duo as it looks to return to the postseason, with both making Bleacher Report's top-10 guards under 25 list.

Having a roster jam-packed with young talent isn't always the recipe for success in the NBA. 

In the ever-popularizing "superstar" culture that's seemingly taken the league by storm, teams without a multi-year All-Star or championship-winning players tend to be left behind, creating a top-heavy effect that's forced to be fixed through the draft.

Luckily for the Oklahoma City Thunder, it represents a special case in multiple ways. Not only does it have the capacity to trade for a superstar with its plentiful sum of picks, it can also scout out some of the best up-and-coming talent over the next few years.

Where the Thunder also stands out, however, is in the level of success it found last season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a year up to par with the NBA's best playmakers, but apart from that, Oklahoma City's roster featured players with little experience, yet the Thunder still found itself in playoff contention.

That effort was largely due to two players in particular — Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams — who's impact landed the duo among Bleacher Report's Top-10 guards under 25 ranking.

Bleacher Report’s top 10 Guards Under 25 with Highest Ceilings:

1. Luka Doncic
2. Anthony Edwards
3. Ja Morant
4. Tyrese Haliburton
5. LaMelo Ball
6. Darius Garland
7. Scoot Henderson
8. Cade Cunningham
9. Jalen Williams
10. Josh Giddey

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 23, 2023

"A 6-foot-8 floor general, Josh Giddey can see passing lanes smaller guards can't access and has the arm talent to thread needles like a world-class tailor," the site wrote. "The 20-year-old's offensive range is limited, as is his athleticism, so there are a few warts in his game, but you have to look past his growing pile of triple-doubles to find them." 

A critique hidden among multiple compliments sums up the 20-year-old's talent pretty well. In two seasons with the Thunder, Giddey has averaged 14.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists to make for a well-rounded statline, though his shooting percentage certainly has room to improve, especially behind the arc. 

Even so, the Thunder shouldn't be too worried about his development. Especially not when he's so-well complimented by an explosive player like Williams.

"One year removed from being the No. 12 pick and still only 22 years old, Jalen Williams already looks like the rare glue guy capable of making a leap to stardom," Bleacher Report continued. "His glue-guy game speaks to his two-way versatility, but his late-season eruption suggests his ascension is either possible or probable." 

Williams had a strong finish to his season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals in his final 19 games of the year. 

His game on the court speaks for itself, as Williams will enter this season with a newfound sense of respect from the league's top defenders, who now know not to underestimate him. If he can continue to thrive despite the extra attention, however, his value with Oklahoma City will only keep increasing. 

The Thunder may have to deal with a fallout when it comes to retaining its players, but while it can avoid that, both Williams and Giddey will be looking to bring their team back to the postseason. And that's all that Oklahoma City can ask for.

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