Millennial Movement: 25 Athletes (25 & Under) Making New Waves?in Professional Sports?
Devon Allen (22)
- Phoenix, AZ
- Olympic Hurdler. Former Oregon Wide Receiver.
- Finished 5th in the 110m Hurdles with a time of 13.31 secs.
- "My scenario is to run track for the next couple years and then in 2020 Olympics win a gold medal and have the world record. And then put that to the side and try to play football. I think that's the ideal scenario." (Allen)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (22)
- Athens, Greece
- Milwaukee Bucks
- The “Greek Freak,” is a 6’11 Guard/Forward averaging 23 points/9 rebounds/6 assists. Antetokounmpo is one of the most unique, intriguing and versatile players in the NBA. His skillset sets him apart from many worldwide, and he’ll only continue to get better with more experience. The work ethic, skill set and development under coach Jason Kidd are finally paying off. Many consider him to be the 2nd best player in the Eastern Conference, but it’s still early.
- “Giannis hasn’t developed a three-point shot yet. It remains to be seen if Giannis will ever become even a league average three-point shooter, but if he does, he will take over the league and be one of the most unstoppable forces ever seen in the league in no time.” (Eric Spyropoulos)
Odell Beckham Jr. (24)
- Baton Rouge, LA
- New York Giants
- A game changing threat and highlight reel in the making whenever the ball touches his gloves. He’s already become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL since he first stepped on the field in 2014. The former LSU product posted a total of 101 receptions, 1367 yards and 10 TDs in 2016. Even though he’s helped the Giants reach the playoffs, Beckham still receives his fair share of criticism off the field. Whether it’s his fault or not, he always makes media headlines. Finding acceptance in responsibility will be the key factor in Beckham’s improvement. It’s apparent that defenses and work ethic aren’t holding him back. If the prolific receiver can put all of that talent and potential together, he can certainly be one of the greatest playmakers the NFL has ever seen.
- “Anyone pointing to Beckham’s head-pounding as a sign of him being out of control or unable to deal with his emotions is just being silly, or petty. Without him, the Giants would have five wins, not 10, and they would be headed for a fifth consecutive season out of the playoffs, rather than sitting on the doorstep.” (Paul Schwartz, New York Post)
Le’Veon Bell (24)
- Reynoldsburg, OH
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Changing the way running backs play professional football because other players aren’t capable of doing what he does. The 4th year Michigan State product has only played in 13 games, and is tallying 9 TDs and 1884 total yards from scrimmage. Pittsburgh is headed to the AFC Championship, and they wouldn’t be there without Bell’s production. He makes it very frustrating each week defenses meet and discuss strategies. If Bell continues to progress every year, then there’s no doubt that he’ll have a heck of a legacy in Pittsburgh. Bell still has a chance to help lead his team to the Super Bowl while tallying the highest rushing yards average in the playoff-modern era (168.5 ypg). His work isn’t done yet, and it’s evident because he’s already established himself as the top running back in the NFL.
- “According to Pro Football Reference, only three of the top 32 running backs in one-playoff rushing yards didn't get to play in that round. Digger deeper, 14 of those clutch performers carried their team all the way to a ring. The no-Super-Bowl exceptions were a couple of Jets (Freeman McNeil in '82, Shonn Greene in '09) and a Jaguar (Natrone Means in '96).” (Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News)
Mookie Betts (24)
- Nashville, TN
- Boston Red Sox
- The former 172nd draft pick tallied 214 hits, 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, earned Gold Glove honors and became an All-Star in 2016.
- “Betts is only the second Red Sox player since 1913 to hit at least 25 homers with 25 stolen bases in a season. The only other Red Sox player with 200 hits in a season before the age of 24 was Johnny Pesky in 1942.” (Bob Nightengale, USA Today)
Simone Biles (19)
- Columbus, OH
- U.S.A. and UCLA Gymnast
- The Most Dominant Gymnast in the World earned 5 medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- “With four golds, Biles also holds the title for most gold medals won by an American female gymnast in a single Olympics and even has a signature move named after her. Even accounting for the evolution of the sport over the past century, from a more lithe, balletic style to one that rewards power and difficulty (a transformation that is charted in Biles's Tide Pods campaign, just one of the myriad endorsements that began to come knocking even before Rio), she's still unprecedented.” (Katherine Cusumano, W Magazine)
Devin Booker (20)
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Phoenix Suns
- The 6’6 shooting guard went from being the 13th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to becoming a Nike Basketball poster-child after scoring 1048 points in only 51 games started as a teenager. Booker can go off for 30+ points on any night, and things will really get interesting once he becomes a more polished player. His offensive prowess, potential, willingness to improve and intelligence for the game make him one of the most coveted young athletes on this list.
- If it’s someone who is under the radar right now that I believe is going to be a really, really, really good, all-star player in the league – it’s Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns.” (LeBron James)
Genie Bouchard (22)
- Montreal, Canada
- Professional Tennis Player
- “Bouchard is a player on the brink. For months, she has been celebrated as someone expected to win Grand Slam events, but she has yet to deliver on that promise. She is still little known outside tennis circles, except in Canada, where she is the multimillion dollar face of Coca-Cola and recognized wherever she goes.” (Susan Dominus, New York Times)
Trayvon Bromell (21)
- St. Petersburg, FL
- U.S.A. and Baylor University Sprinter
- Finished 8th in the 100m final at the Rio Olympics with a time of 10.08 secs.
- "I've always been a confident person. I don't fear too many things. No man on this earth will put fear in me. It all comes down to who has strongest mindset, a lot of people don't see me big as a big threat, because of my stature and size. A lot of people count me out, just because people are bigger than me. At the end of the day, if you have stronger mindset you can overpower anyone." (Bromell)
Kris Bryant (25)
- Las Vegas, NV
- Chicago Cubs
- The 6’5, 2nd year third baseman led the Cubs to a World Series title. Bryant is a two-time All Star and National League MVP that posted 176 hits/39 home runs/102 RBIs in 2016. He’s been one of the most intriguing players in Major League Baseball since he was inserted into the starting position at Wrigley Field. Bryant’s just getting started, and he might be one of the most successful figures at the end of his career compared to his peers on this list.
- “Entering his age-25 season, Bryant is on a Hall of Fame track. The beginning of his career could have been scripted, but many might have found it unrealistic. If nothing else, it's been just about as perfect as could be imagined.” (Matt Snyder, CBS Sports)
Anthony Davis (23)
- Chicago, IL
- New Orleans Pelicans
- “The Brow,” is averaging 29 points/12 rebounds/2.5 blocks per game on a team that isn’t providing the support he needs on a night-to-night basis. Davis literally does everything. He can score, block shots, dribble, shoot midrange jumpers… you name it. Nightly injuries aren’t even stopping the superstar anymore.
- “Three players in NBA history have put up at least a 31.5 PER in a season: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain. Those three players are arguably the best players in the history of the game. Anthony Davis’ PER this season is obliterating any of the seasons put up by those legendary players. Combining that and the level of prolific scoring with remarkable efficiency is uncommon. There’s been only 14 seasons in league history where a player averaged at least 30 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 60 percent or higher.” (Michael Wonsover)
Ezekiel Elliot (21)
- Alton, IL
- Dallas Cowboys
- The rookie running back from Ohio State is currently in discussions for NFC MVP honors, and is already up there with past Cowboy legends Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. Elliot has a superb offensive line, but he was still able to league lead the NFL in rushing with 1,631 yards after a slow start in 2016.
- “The Dallas rookie has rushed for 1,005 yards with nine touchdowns on 198 attempts through nine games this season, not to mention 18 receptions for 250 yards and another touchdown and has helped the Cowboys to an 8-1 start and the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the NFC. He’s already joined Dickerson and Adrian Peterson as the only rookies to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark in their first nine games.” (Blake Williams, Forbes)
Joel Embiid (22)
- Yaounde, Cameroon
- Philadelphia 76ers
- He is the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. He has the city of Philadelphia believing in basketball again. The “#TrustTheProcess,” ringleader receives standing ovations from fans every night because of his demeanor and competitiveness. Embiid’s currently on a 10-game streak of most consecutive 20+ scoring games, trailing Allen Iverson (11).
- “We’ll discover if Embiid makes the All-Star over the next couple weeks, but it now seems apparent that his candidacy isn’t just a popular movement with no basis in merit. Embiid’s stats are quite good, but he’s also made a previously embarrassing team quite relevant.” (Eric Freeman, Yahoo! Sports)
Antoine Griezmann (25)
- Macon, France
- Atlético Madrid
- Current La Liga Striker. Europe’s Next Superstar.
- “Griezmann is no physical, bullying presence smashing his way onto the goal scoring leader board, though. He relies on blistering pace, all-round athleticism and the audacity to try his luck from anywhere and everywhere.” (World Soccer, 2016)
Bryce Harper (24)
- Las Vegas, NV
- Washington Nationals
- MAKE BASEBALL FUN AGAIN… that’s what Harper’s been constantly trying to preach towards MLB colleagues for over a year now. The 24-year-old stud from Vegas has always been a hot commodity in a Nationals jersey (both a good and a bad thing). During the regular season, one can catch him making superb highlights on a Monday, then segmented for childish “insubordination,” on a Tuesday. Harper hit the ball 123 times, posted 23 home runs and tallied 86 RBIs in his 5th season. His significant contribution for Washington led to an appearance in the 2016 American League Divisional series, so expect to see more playoff games in the future.
- “Harper's brief legacy is a complicated one. Because he'd been so hyped, some expected he would be great the moment he stepped onto a Major League diamond. Harper's at-bats have become stop-and-watch moments. He has delivered one jaw-dropping swing after another. For those of us who love this stuff, this is as good as it gets. So let's sit back and enjoy wherever Bryce Harper's ride takes us. There appears to be plenty more ahead.” (Richard Justice, MLB.com)
Nyjah Huston (22)
- Davis, CA
- Professional Skateboarder
- The reigning Street League Skateboarding (SLS) champion has also won it 4 times previously. The highest grossing prize money winner is one of the most popular skateboarders in the world right now. Huston’s net worth and success also reached another level whenever he partnered with Nike SB.
- “Nyjah Huston is the most victorious SLS Pro, with his first Championship in 2010. In 2012, he won all but one stop including the Super Crown. In 2013, he won 4 of 7 stops and placed 2nd at Super Crown. In 2014, he became the first SLS Pro to sweep the season. In 2015, Nyjah placed 1st at Pro Open in Barcelona, and made every Final thereafter. He is currently tied for the highest scored trick ever in SLS with Shane O’Neill.” (streetleague.com)
Kyrie Irving (24)
- Melbourne, Australia
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- What a difference a year makes… Kyrie Irving went from developing into one of the NBA’s elite guards to becoming one of the most prolific players on any given night. He’s only getting his legacy started. Irving has quickly established a huge fan base, and established himself as an elite figure for Nike Basketball. There are much more 30+ scoring nights and game winners left in the tank for Irving. Who knows how many rings he’ll acquire in his career, especially after he deliberately took the championship from Golden State last year.
- “It’s important to note that if not for Kyrie Irving, there is a very good chance the city of Cleveland would still be searching for its first title since 1964. It’s also important to note that Kyrie Irving is a REALLY good NBA basketball player. I can’t imagine there would be too many teams if any at all, that would say no, we don’t want that guy.” (Dan Harrington)
Katie Ledecky (19)
- Bethesda, MD
- U.S.A. Olympic Swimmer
- Katie Ledecky went from waking up at 4am to becoming a five-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Olympian for Team U.S.A. Ledecky is one of four American women to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. She won the gold medal in the 200m, 400m (broke her own world record) and 800m (broke her own world record) freestyle events and 800m free relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is also a current student-athlete at Stanford University.
- “When she finishes her last individual event on Friday, viewers might wonder if there was anyone else in the pool. If recent form holds, the gap between Ledecky and the silver medalist in the 800-meter freestyle will reflect her dominance more powerfully than the gold medal she receives afterward.” (Karen Crouse, New York Times)
Neymar Jr. (24)
- Sao Paolo, Brazil
- F.C. Barcelona
- It’s tough to imagine any other athlete that faces as much pressure as Neymar Jr. does. The 24-year old striker is constantly under the spotlight while playing in La Liga, but that’s not even close to the attention he gets after putting on a jersey for the Brazilian national team. Neymar Jr. is genuinely one of the most iconic athletes on this list, and he embraces it. His legacy was created at such a young age, and now it seems like he’s been playing forever. The goals, achievements and other career thresholds will continue to increase over the span of his miraculous career.
- "A little bit of continuity. If he is given this, he'll be the best in the world in a few years. I have no doubt about that." (Cafu, Former Brazilian World Champion)
Paul Pogba (23)
- France
- Manchester United
- Pogba is another tremendous footballer that has only begun to flourish, even though he’s already assembled a tremendous career. He’s a young star, that is currently learning how to cope with pressure under the lessons of legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The premier league star has turned into the most expensive player in history and one of the world’s greatest young athletes. It’s amazing and encouraging to know that he’s still got time to mold his craft b taking his talents to the next level.
- "When you speak about the best players in the world, you go immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals. Can Paul score the amount of goals scored by Ronaldo and Messi? I don't think he will even score 20 goals in a season, but he is one of the best midfield players, maybe the best midfielder in the world.” (Jose Mourinho, Manchester United Manager)
Kristaps Porzingis (21)
- Ventspils, Latvia
- New York Knicks
- In a society where combine workouts and overseas play doesn’t justify respect for critics, Porzingis remained a mystery until his first NBA appearance. After being selected 4th in the 2015 NBA Draft, Porzingis immediately turned head-scratchers into believers. The young Latvian has garnered respect from individuals worldwide, and is currently one of the most intriguing players in the NBA. Being in the Madison Square Garden limelight has certainly helped his branding, and his versatile skills make him one of the most coveted athletes the Big Apple has ever seen. Porzingis still has work to do, but the 7-footer is certainly on his way to new heights.
- “When Kristaps Porzingis was drafted, we thought he’d be a project. He instead started most of his rookie season season. Coming into his second year, we expected steady improvement. Instead, he’s become a full-fledged star already.” (Mike Prada, SBNation)
Corey Seager (22)
- Charlotte, NC
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Young, Silent, Poised and Professional… these are unusual characteristics for a superstar that resides in Southern California. Corey Seager has quickly become one of the new faces for baseball after an incredible year and a half of playing shortstop for the Dodgers. The NL Rookie of the Year simply shows up to work, and handles his business. His skill set is like no other, and the consistency he displays makes everyone appreciate his services. It’ll be interesting to see if Seager can help lead Los Angeles back to the World Series one day.
- “Corey stepped right into a playoff-caliber lineup and hit the ground running. He was a critical part of our success on both sides of the ball and is tremendously deserving of this award. I actually think he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of and I’m proud that his name is going to be forever linked to the great Dodger rookies of the past.” (Andrew Friedman, Los Angeles Dodgers President of Baseball Operations)
Jordan Spieth (23)
- Dallas, TX
- Professional Golfer
- After leaving the University of Texas in 2012, Jordan Spieth immediately turned into one of golf’s premier professionals. The 23-year old has 8 PGA Tour victories, a signature shoe from Under Armour, a $40 million net worth and a 2015 Master’s victory. He could’ve added a consecutive Green Jacket victory last year; but he suffered an “apparent collapse,” towards the end of the tournament. Regardless, he’s had to adjust like any other great athlete and deal with life afterwards. It’s a new year, and another opportunity for Spieth to get out there by reclaiming his spot at #1 in the FedEx rankings. He’ll have plenty more glamorous moments in his career to dominate the majors.
- “Maturity is the aspect of Spieth’s character that instantly hits anybody who spends time in his company. Spieth’s rocket-fuelled progress has clearly been beyond even his own wildest dreams and yet his ability to at least compete on the PGA Tour and refusal to buckle in illustrious or senior company was not a complete shock.” (Ewan Murray, The Guardian Sport Blog)
Karl-Anthony Towns (21)
- Edison, NJ
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- It’s very rare to witness young athletes play professionally, and see few flaws in style. Towns is one of those individuals. He started to make his presence known at 16 years old while playing for the Dominican Republic national team, and has blossomed into one of the NBA’s top tier players in his 2nd year. KAT is currently averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds through 42 games, and is ushering a youth movement in Minneapolis. He’s consistently improving on a night-to-night basis, and will be one of the most imposing players sooner than later.
- “The list of players who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in their sophomore season since the 3-point line was implemented is short and star-studded. Only 15 players have reached those numbers in their second year, per Basketball-Reference. Most of those players are either Hall of Famers or are on their way there. All 14 of the other players on that list made multiple All-Star appearances.” (Nicholas Agar-Johnson, Hoops Habit)
Mike Trout (25)
- Vineland, NJ
- Los Angeles Angels
- The five time all-star and two time MVP is one of Major League Baseball’s greatest talents. Trout is arguably the best player in the MLB, but he doesn’t have opportunities to flourish in the national spotlight. People miss out on chances to watch the superstar play if Angels games aren’t broadcasted on major television outlets. The Angels continue to constantly miss the playoffs, and need to do something quickly to preserve Trout’s efforts. He’s accumulated 917 hits, 168 home runs, 497 RBIs and a .306 batting average over a 6 year span… That’s incredible, and there’s no way he’s going to slow down anytime soon.
- “There are few five-tool players in Major League Baseball, but Trout is chief among them and has been since his rookie season in 2012.” (Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report)
Kendall Lewis