The NBA season has not disappointed. Fans have been blessed with stellar performances from Lebron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic. At the same time, a bunch of young superstars have established themselves as the leaders of the new school.

From Luka Doncic's MVP-caliber showing to Zion Williamson's dominance, you don't have to look far to find the new faces of the NBA.

Here are the top five players under the age of 21.

5. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

When a fan base believes you are too valuable to be included in a trade for James Harden, you have clearly shown star potential. In the case of Herro, he has already shown that potential on the biggest stage of the NBA.

His playoff run only revealed what Miami fans had seen for an entire season. Herro is a special young talent because of his scoring, clearly but his scoring is fueled by his audacity. As a rookie, Herro made plays that were described as ballsy by vets and analysts alike. Whether it’s a running floater in crunch time or a 35-foot jumpshot in transition, Herro has guts and the game to back up those guts.

Herro is a specialty shooter who can put the ball on the floor for a limited time. He is able to slash in the paint and finish around the rim, even with heavy oppositions. He will also dribble off his foot if too much pressure is applied. You have to live with the good and the bad when it comes to Herro. 

But that’s what makes him special. He has capabilities and he believes in them. He isn’t scared of competition. He isn’t scared to fail. That combination is something you want on your side.

4. Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

If you haven’t checked out Sexland this season then you are truly missing out. The duo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland has put Clevland back into relevancy in the NBA. Sexton is the driving force behind that duo. 

Sexton made headlines in the NBA Summer League back in 2018 when he and then Laker Josh Hart had the duel of the summer. 

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It was clear that Sexton was different then, and now that fact is showing on a nightly basis. The most notable sign of Sexton's ascension to stardom was his 42 point outing against the Brooklyn Nets that ended with a Cavs win. 

He can get downhill at will and is able to change speeds while keeping control of the ball. He sets his teammates up when needed but is always looking for his shot. His three-ball isn’t where it needs to be, but he rarely is forced to take the three because of his ability to change speeds. 

The biggest contributor to Sexton’s it factor is his dog mentality. He’s the type to have a career night against other marquee point guards– as he did against the Nets in early January. He also an efficient defender, something that a lot of the young stars can’t say.

Sexton is easily an elite NBA point guard in the making and is on track to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first playoff appearance since the departure of Lebron James.

3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson only gave fans a glimpse of his star potential last season, though it was an exciting glimpse. This season he has done more than show he has star potential, he is making a case to make the NBA All-Star team in his second year. He is averaging 23 points and seven rebounds while shooting 66 percent from the field. 

His athleticism has been featured at basically every corner of the internet, but the most impressive part of his game is his craftiness around the rim. Whether it’s facing up on the low block or using the rim to shield off shot-blockers, Williamson’s height has not posed as a problem. He has a veteran's understanding of spacing, angles, the positioning of defenders, and knowing when to cut.

He rarely makes dives to the rim that clog things up for teammates. When he goes, it's because there's an opportunity to score or grab an offensive rebound, and his success rate on those fronts is high– largely because he’s playing with a high IQ point guard in Lonzo Ball.

On a nightly basis, Williamson has been able to achieve rare statistical feats. Williamson’s production has been efficiently effective during his two years in the NBA. He has obliterated player comparisons in his first 40 games. The next step for Williamson will be to turn that extraordinary play into wins.

2. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The transition from college basketball to the NBA  is tough for point guards. It usually takes ample time for them to adjust to this level.

That wasn't the case for Ja Morant. He came into an unideal situation and turned the Grizzlies into a serious playoff contender. With the blend of athleticism, vision, and a tremendous feel for scoring, Morant has transformed the Memphis Grizzlies back into the grit and grind squad of the early 2010s.

Morant is fast and knows how to use his speed to his advantage. Like Sexton, he can change his speed on the dribble. The difference between the two is that he has shown to be a much more willing passer, hanging in the air to throw wrap around dimes to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke. He’s alleviated the play of Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson by forcing defenses to collapse in on the paint when he attacks. 

He also keeps the same energy when playing defense. Morant doesn’t avoid the smoke from other premier NBA point guards and makes plays down the stretch to help get stops. That energy rubs off on his teammates and is the reason why Morant was able to lead the Grizzlies to the play-in.

1. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Is there really a need to explain why Luka Doncic is leading this list? From nearly beating the Clippers single-handedly to recording numbers only comparable to Magic Johnson, Doncic is mature beyond his years. 

His handles combined with footwork forces defenses to throw multiple bodies at him as he gets downhill. The problem is that Doncic is also an elite passer– the best passer on this list and arguably in the NBA. He can find teammates with dump downs, drift passers, and even some passes that leave no other words besides that’s just Luka.

In his second season, Doncic averaged 28 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Russell Westbrook is the only player in league history who has averaged at least as many points (31.3), rebounds (10.1), and assists (9.5) per 75 possessions in a single season as Doncic’s output in 2020. And Doncic’s true shooting percentage (58.4) was three points higher than Westbrook's from that infamous MVP season (55.4).

But Doncic’s value isn’t just in his stats. He transformed the Dallas Mavericks from a lottery team to a playoff team in just two seasons. The Mavericks' winning percentage in 2017-18 was 29.3. It jumped up to 40.2 in Luka's rookie year. In his second year, it boosted to 57 percent. Although they've struggled at times this season, Doncic is surely the building block for this franchise.

He has already made it clear he is a top ten player in the NBA. Imagine where he will be with more experience.