Most valuable NBA players under 23
Age at the start of the season. Value is what his projected play is worth beyond his contract, so a cheap deal and years of growth both count.
Updated November 6, 2026.
| # | Player | Team | Cap hit | Yrs | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Wembanyama C, 22 |  San Antonio Spurs | $16.87M | 6 | $293.4M |
| 2 | Jalen Duren C, 22 |  Detroit Pistons | $40.16M | 5 | $151.4M |
| 3 | Kon Knueppel SF, 21 |  Charlotte Hornets | $10.52M | 3 | $149.7M |
| 4 | Cooper Flagg SF, 19 |  Dallas Mavericks | $14.52M | 3 | $126.2M |
| 5 | Dylan Harper SG, 20 | San Antonio Spurs | $12.99M | 3 | $106.9M |
| 6 | Donovan Clingan C, 22 |  Portland Trail Blazers | $7.52M | 2 | $96.9M |
| 7 | Collin Murray-Boyles PF, 21 |  Toronto Raptors | $6.65M | 3 | $89.8M |
| 8 | Cason Wallace SG, 22 |  Oklahoma City Thunder | $7.42M | 6 | $88.2M |
| 9 | VJ Edgecombe SG, 21 |  Philadelphia 76ers | $11.66M | 3 | $85.5M |
| 10 | Reed Sheppard SG, 22 |  Houston Rockets | $11.11M | 2 | $83.8M |
| 11 | Stephon Castle PG, 22 | San Antonio Spurs | $10.02M | 2 | $83.0M |
| 12 | AJ Dybantsa SF, 19 |  Washington Wizards | $14.75M | 4 | $66.5M |
| 13 | Jordan Walsh PF, 22 |  Boston Celtics | $2.41M | 4 | $58.9M |
| 14 | Kel'el Ware C, 22 |  Milwaukee Bucks | $4.65M | 2 | $56.7M |
| 15 | Keyonte George PG, 22 |  Utah Jazz | $6.56M | 6 | $52.0M |
| 16 | Darryn Peterson SG, 19 | Utah Jazz | $13.20M | 4 | $49.8M |
| 17 | Ja'Kobe Walter SG, 22 | Toronto Raptors | $3.81M | 2 | $45.3M |
| 18 | Cameron Boozer PF, 19 |  Memphis Grizzlies | $11.85M | 4 | $44.6M |
| 19 | Joan Beringer PF, 19 |  Minnesota Timberwolves | $4.41M | 3 | $43.1M |
| 20 | Kasparas Jakučionis SG, 20 | Milwaukee Bucks | $3.84M | 3 | $42.4M |
| 21 | Derik Queen C, 21 |  New Orleans Pelicans | $5.42M | 3 | $39.7M |
| 22 | Caleb Wilson PF, 20 |  Chicago Bulls | $10.68M | 4 | $38.8M |
| 23 | Darius Acuff Jr. PG, 19 |  Sacramento Kings | $8.02M | 4 | $36.6M |
| 24 | Keaton Wagler SG, 19 |  LA Clippers | $9.67M | 4 | $36.0M |
| 25 | Hugo González SF, 20 | Boston Celtics | $2.92M | 3 | $34.1M |
| 26 | Hannes Steinbach PF, 20 | Charlotte Hornets | $5.23M | 4 | $34.0M |
| 27 | Morez Johnson Jr. PF, 20 | Dallas Mavericks | $6.75M | 4 | $33.8M |
| 28 | Noah Penda SF, 21 |  Orlando Magic | $2.15M | 3 | $33.2M |
| 29 | Kingston Flemings PG, 19 |  Atlanta Hawks | $7.35M | 4 | $32.0M |
| 30 | Asa Newell PF, 21 | Atlanta Hawks | $3.40M | 3 | $31.9M |
| 31 | Matas Buzelis SF, 22 | Chicago Bulls | $5.72M | 2 | $30.0M |
| 32 | Allen Graves PF, 20 | Toronto Raptors | $4.07M | 4 | $29.3M |
| 33 | Dailyn Swain SG, 21 | Chicago Bulls | $4.97M | 4 | $29.3M |
| 34 | Ron Holland SF, 21 | Detroit Pistons | $9.07M | 2 | $27.7M |
| 35 | Brayden Burries SG, 21 | Milwaukee Bucks | $6.42M | 4 | $27.3M |
| 36 | Egor Dëmin PG, 20 |  Brooklyn Nets | $7.23M | 3 | $27.0M |
| 37 | Mohamed Diawara SF, 21 |  New York Knicks | $2.62M | 4 | $25.9M |
| 38 | Carter Bryant PF, 20 | San Antonio Spurs | $5.15M | 3 | $25.6M |
| 39 | Labaron Philon Jr. PG, 20 | Philadelphia 76ers | $3.60M | 4 | $24.8M |
| 40 | Sergio De Larrea PG, 20 | Dallas Mavericks | $3.18M | 4 | $23.9M |
| 41 | Mikel Brown Jr. PG, 20 | Brooklyn Nets | $8.79M | 4 | $23.2M |
| 42 | Zuby Ejiofor PF, 22 | Atlanta Hawks | $3.45M | 4 | $23.2M |
| 43 | Kyle Filipowski C, 22 | Utah Jazz | $3.00M | 2 | $23.1M |
| 44 | Jeremiah Fears PG, 20 | New Orleans Pelicans | $7.90M | 3 | $22.2M |
| 45 | Ebuka Okorie PG, 19 | Detroit Pistons | $4.48M | 4 | $21.9M |
| 46 | Liam McNeeley SF, 21 | Charlotte Hornets | $2.90M | 3 | $21.0M |
| 47 | Anthony Black PG, 22 | Orlando Magic | $10.11M | 1 | $20.8M |
| 48 | Nate Ament SF, 19 | Milwaukee Bucks | $5.50M | 4 | $20.6M |
| 49 | Karim Lopez SF, 19 | Memphis Grizzlies | $3.75M | 4 | $20.3M |
| 50 | Dereck Lively II C, 22 | Dallas Mavericks | $7.24M | 1 | $18.6M |