US media ranks the top five young NBA teams: Spurs top the list over Thunder, Rockets fourth, Wizards fifth

On July 11, Beijing time, many teams are building young lineups not just as a long-term strategy. Although these young cores typically have promising futures, they can also deliver strong short-term performance and potentially rise to the top of the league. Under today's strict salary cap rules, the best way to navigate financial constraints is to stockpile affordable young talents: they provide consistent energy and entertainment while minimizing the pains of rebuilding.

Bleacher Report has ranked the league's top five young teams, counting only players who will be 25 or younger at the start of the 2026-27 season. The evaluation considers roster fit, upside potential, on-court performance, and past track records. The list is revealed in reverse order:

Fifth: Washington Wizards

Core roster: AJ Dybantsa (age 20), Alex Sarr (21), Kyshawn George (22), Will Riley (20)

Magic fans might be unhappy with this ranking, as the battle for fourth and fifth place was fierce. In terms of tangible results—whether team record or individual accolades—the Magic have a clear edge.

However, the Magic's young core is top-heavy: beyond Paolo Banchero (still has offensive efficiency issues) and Franz Wagner (played only 94 games combined over the past two seasons), the talent depth drops off sharply. In contrast, the Wizards have such a deep pool of young talent that it's hard to decide which rising stars to highlight as core players and which to list as reserves.

Dybantsa is unquestionably the face of the franchise. As the No. 1 pick in the loaded 2026 draft, he has superstar potential as a big, versatile wing. His physical tools are complete, his scoring arsenal is diverse, and defenders can't stop him from driving to the rim or getting to the free-throw line. He also projects to be a secondary playmaker, an all-around defender, and a reliable outside shooter.

Dybantsa is the Wizards' brightest star, but 2024's No. 2 pick Sarr has also made huge strides, becoming a player who can change the game on both ends. The 7-footer's defensive versatility is ridiculous, and this season he will share the court with top-tier playmaker Trae Young, which should further boost his finishing efficiency.

Setting aside Tre Johnson and Bilal Coulibaly for now, let's focus on Kyshawn George and Will Riley. The former is a sharp three-point shooter with strong shot creation skills; the latter is a point forward whose unique offensive rhythm constantly disrupts defensive setups.

This ranking may involve some speculation, but the upward trajectory of the Wizards' young core is clearly visible.

Other young players: Bilal Coulibaly (22), Tre Johnson (20), Bub Carrington (21), Tristan Vukcevic (23), Jamil Watkins (25)

Fourth: Houston Rockets

Core roster: Alperen Şengün (24), Amen Thompson (24), Jabari Smith Jr. (23), Reed Sheppard (22)

The 2025-26 season wasn't the peak for Houston's young core, but it highlighted the team's depth. Five of the six players with the most minutes per game were 25 or under, and they led the Rockets to 52 wins with the league's sixth-best net rating.

The season's disappointment came from failing to advance further after acquiring Kevin Durant in the offseason, but that was largely due to the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.

Şengün earned his second straight All-Star nod, one of only three players averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. During VanVleet's absence, Amen increased his offensive role to fill the gap while remaining stellar on defense, earning Defensive Player of the Year votes.

Jabari Smith Jr. delivered another solid season as a floor-spacing forward, with a career-high three-point attempt rate and a 36.3% conversion rate. He also held opponents to 5.4% below their usual shooting percentage inside 10 feet. Reed Sheppard was thrust into a major role right away, shouldering heavy ball-handling duties and posting 18.6 points per 36 minutes on 43%/39.4%/80.2% shooting splits, with more than twice as many assists as turnovers.

These young Rockets clearly have plenty of room to grow, and given their ages, this ranking might even undersell them.

Other young players: Tari Eason (25), Bruce Thornton (23)

Third: Detroit Pistons

Core roster: Cade Cunningham (25), Ausar Thompson (24), Jalen Duren (23)

First, an objective context: The Pistons have not yet officially signed Jalen Duren to a contract extension. He is a restricted free agent, and with most teams' cap space nearly exhausted in free agency, negotiations remain uncertain. Both sides still intend to reach a deal, but nothing is final until it's on paper.

Even without Duren, the Pistons' young core would rank high on this list, but his presence elevates them further. Duren had a poor playoff performance, which partly delayed his extension, but in the regular season he broke out completely, earning his first All-Star selection and All-NBA honors.

Still, Detroit's true star remains Cunningham, and that won't change for years. Last season he proved he can be the No. 1 option on a 60-win team, averaging 23.9 points and 9.9 assists, finishing fifth in MVP voting and making the All-NBA First Team.

If Cunningham and Duren were a few years older, this core would already be nearly perfect. To play at this level so young is a testament to their immense talent.

And that's not counting Ausar Thompson: a tailor-made versatile defensive stopper who excels at creating turnovers and disrupting opponents' rhythm. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made the All-Defensive First Team.

Other young players: Dennis Jenkins (25), Ron Holland (21), Ebuka Okorie (19)

Second: Oklahoma City Thunder

Core roster: Jalen Williams (25), Chet Holmgren (24), Ajay Mitchell (24), Cason Wallace (23)

How do elite teams stay competitive? By hoarding draft picks and developing rising stars. Over the past two seasons, the Thunder combined for 132 regular-season wins, won six playoff series, and captured a championship. In the 2026-27 season, the team added three first-round rookies: the 12th pick Mara, the 16th pick Stirtz, and 2025's 15th pick Thomas Sorber (recovering from an ACL tear).

That's not counting the four core players under 25 mentioned above, plus several other young talents on the roster. Few teams in the league can match the Thunder in terms of young player quantity, and the individual quality of these youngsters is also among the best.

Jalen Williams missed the season due to a hamstring injury, but the prior year he made the All-Star team, All-NBA, and All-Defensive teams. Holmgren is still refining his offensive game but already earned All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive honors this season. Either player would be a clear No. 1 option elsewhere, but in OKC they play second fiddle—the team's true star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is older than this ranking's cutoff but still on the rise.

Looking deeper, Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace would be core development projects on most teams, but here they just highlight the Thunder's depth. Mitchell already shows star potential with a plus-minus in the 95th percentile, while Wallace is a decorated defensive stopper (All-Defensive Second Team) who could become a fine offensive facilitator if given more ball-handling duties.

No other team can match the Thunder's combination of young talent quantity and quality. However, basketball ultimately comes down to superstars, and this under-25 group lacks a transcendent, top-tier megastar, so they miss out on the top spot.

Other young players: Jaylin Williams (24), Ed Mara (21), Nikola Topić (21), Thomas Sorber (21), Bennett Stirtz (23), Jared McCain (22)

First: San Antonio Spurs

Core roster: Victor Wembanyama (23), Stephon Castle (22), Dylan Harper (20)

When the Spurs blew multiple late-game leads in the Finals, observers naturally pointed to youth and inexperience. But consider: they only showed those flaws because this young squad reached the biggest stage years ahead of schedule.

Wembanyama has played three NBA seasons, Castle just finished his sophomore year, and Harper completed only his rookie season, mostly coming off the bench. Yet these three are undoubtedly the most important and talented players on this rising team.

In 2024-25, the Spurs had a sub-.500 record and a net rating near the bottom of the league. In 2025-26, they jumped to 62 wins and a top-three net rating. Many factors fueled this dramatic turnaround, but the three young players above were the most critical variables. The Finals loss will be a valuable learning experience; plus, with Wembanyama taking a pay cut, the team has ample cap space to keep the core trio together long-term while adding strong role players.

Wembanyama is already approaching the league's top player status while being the best defender in the NBA. Castle is also an aggressive defender whose driving and passing are tough to stop. Harper plays with smoothness and finishes better than most his age.

Wembanyama has established himself as a superstar, and Castle and Harper have clear paths to stardom. With this elite young core unmatched in the league, plus supporting pieces like Julian Champagnie (a sharpshooter) and Carter Bryant (a defensive stalwart), the Spurs' top ranking is well-deserved and clearly ahead of the competition.

Other young players: Julian Champagnie (25), Carter Bryant (21), Jayden Quitants (19), Tarris Reed Jr. (23)