Denver Nuggets: Breaking down one of the best young cores in the NBA

By Nick Crain | Aug 7, 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball as Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers look on at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Denver Nuggets (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /

When it comes to young cores in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets are starting to make the case that they have one of the best.

The NBA is absolutely loaded with talent. In today’s high-paced style of play, we have seen young players around the league get the opportunity to become stars early in their careers. Of all of the young talent in the league, you could argue the Denver Nuggets have the best set of five guys under 25.

Sure, you could say teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, and Dallas Mavericks have better young duos, but none of those teams have a brighter top-to-bottom core of the future while also being a contender today. The Denver Nuggets have five guys that are 25 years old or younger that are either already stars or have real star potential.

We’ll count them down, starting with the biggest start of them all.

Nikola Jokic

Age: 25

2019-20 Stats:

PPG: 20.2

RPG: 10.0

APG: 7.0

Nikola Jokic is making the case that he is one of the top three big men in the entire NBA. Last year in the playoffs, Jokic produced an absurd 25.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per contest on 39.3 percent from deep. Making his second NBA All-Star Game this season, he’s once again been great in the 2019-20 season. His ability to handle the ball, facilitate the offense, score whenever he wants, and pull down rebounds is truly special. As the team’s best player, leading Denver to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference so far, he leads the roster in points, rebounds, and assists per game.

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