San Antonio Spurs: The NBA’s most overlooked young core

NBA fans are quick to judge and find the league’s brightest cores, meanwhile, the most overlooked young core belongs to the San Antonio Spurs.

Over the last twenty years, there have been some examples of dominant lineups and teams who have held up the flag at the top of the hypothetical mountain. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors have been in the forefront of some of the most dangerous teams in the new century. These ravenous squads are the baron definition of sporting dominance, super-team or not. But no franchise has been as consistent with winning and staying at or near the top, as the San Antonio Spurs.

Throughout the 2000s and the 2010s, the Spurs lead the NBA in wins throughout the regular season and the playoffs. And it’s evident to see how successful this franchise has truly been in the new century. With the dangerous trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, along with coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have always been in the playoff picture, either at the top of the pack or as an eighth seed. The Spurs also have recorded 18 consecutive 50-win seasons, which is an NBA record.

But in the past few seasons, their dominant reign near the top has come to an end, with their aging squad failing to keep up with the new and improved teams in the Western Conference. The duo of DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge hasn’t been able to further the Spurs’ chances of getting back into the relevancy.

Little did we know that the San Antonio Spurs were concocting one of the brightest young cores in the NBA, with the blueprints slowly, but surely, coming together. Their young core hasn’t been able to break through yet, but in a matter of time, they’ll be leading the Spurs back into the playoff picture.

On that note, let’s take a look at their heavily overlooked young core, which needs more attention.