NBA: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the league

Honorable mentions

With the youth that encapsulates the NBA as a collective organization, young cores come almost a dime a dozen. With that said, there are certainly more than five rosters in the NBA that contain an excess of young experience and potential. Thus, the honorable mentions come forth.

Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton 21, Devin Booker 23, Mikal Bridges, 23, Cameron Johnson 23, Ty Jerome 22, Kelly Oubre

The last time the Suns had back-to-back winning seasons was between the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Since then it’s been a boat-load of average-to-bust level picks in the draft. Sooner or later it has to come together, right? With names like Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, the Suns were close to making the cut of the top five, but something significant has to be put together (i.e. their first winning season since 2013) for them to be put on the list.

Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant 20, Jaren Jackson Jr. 20, Brandon Clarke 23, Dillon Brooks 24, Justise Winslow

The Grizzlies were another team that were close to cracking the top five. As this team currently sits largely on potential (but could easily breakthrough if they make the playoffs), they are just nudged out. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke continue to show out this season, and Morant remains many experts favorite for rookie of the year.

Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine 24, Wendell Carter Jr. 20, Lauri Markkanen 22, Coby White

Zach LaVine has been on an absolute tear so far this year, averaging a career high in points per game (25), steals (1.4) and rebounds (4.8), just missing out on an All-Star position. Lauri Markkanen is a consistent 15 points and 7 rebounds guy, Wendell Carter Jr. is potential personified and Coby White has contributed plenty as a rookie for the Bulls this season.

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum 21, Jaylen Brown 23, Carsen Edwards 21, Grant Williams

Jayson Tatum, Jayson Tatum and Jayson Tatum again for good measure. The third-year Duke product is averaging career highs in points, steals, assists and rebounds per game. Guess what? Jaylen Brown is doing the same. Carsen Edwards and Grant Williams are added to the list mostly because Romeo Langford hasn’t seen enough minutes to be there yet. Edwards could be a strictly-a-shooter type in the future as well.

Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons 23, Furkan Korkmaz 22, Shake Milton 23, Matisse Thybulle

Of course Ben Simmons. No further explanation needed. Furkan Korkmaz has shown that, at times, he can be a walking bucket, Matisse Thybulle is the on-the-rise stout defender to be feared going forward and Shake Milton is the guy to round out it out. Milton, the 23-year-old SMU grad, has improved in nearly every statistical category in his second year in the NBA.