5 NBA young cores that might steal 2026-27 season

Young NBA teams don’t have to wait years to become good anymore. Thanks to smart draft picks and good coaching, several young squads are already keeping up with the best teams in the league.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, which gets underway Tuesday, Oct. 20, some of the most fun teams to watch are led by guys who haven’t even hit their peak yet.

Being young isn’t enough on its own, of course. You still have to get stops on defense, score when it matters and keep your cool in close games. But when a team finds the right group of young guys, things can turn around fast. A breakout star starts putting up big numbers, the rest of the guys learn how to win together, and bringing in a veteran or two helps tie it all together.

Oklahoma City already proved that a young team can win right away. San Antonio has a once-in-a-generation talent ready to run the league. Others have also built deep, tough rosters, while Dallas is counting on its newest star to take that next leap.

All five teams are in slightly different spots, but they all have young talent capable of influencing the league this season.

Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson (22) brings the ball up the court against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Delta Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Utah finished 22-60 last season, landing 15th in the Western Conference after three consecutive rebuilding years of 31, 17 and 22 wins. Their patience was rewarded when the Jazz leaped from fourth to second in the draft lottery, allowing them to draft combo guard Darryn Peterson to headline their backcourt of the future.

The current group features Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and Ace Bailey. Jackson returned from knee surgery and played three games for Utah last season. George earned a five-year, $157.5 million extension after averaging 24 points per game. Bailey also showed promise, averaging 16.2 points and 4.9 rebounds from Jan.1 onward.

Defense remains the biggest concern. Utah allowed 126 points per game, the most in the league, and ranked 29th in defensive efficiency. Opponents took 45.1 percent of their shots from 3-point range, while the Jazz surrendered 15.3 made threes per game. Losing Walker Kessler in a trade with the Lakers adds another concern.

Jackson brings proven defensive ability, while Josh Green and Josh Okogie offer additional options.

Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) reacts after a play against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Capital One Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Washington went 17–65 last season, dropping 27 of its final 28 contests. That disastrous finish secured the Wizards the No. 1 overall pick, which they used to draft consensus top prospect AJ Dybantsa. Now, front office leadership has paired that prize rookie with battle-tested veterans to accelerate the timeline.

Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Khris Middleton and DeAndre Ayton headline the roster. Young signed a four-year, $212 million deal, while Davis offers a potential defensive anchor. The young group includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Will Riley, with Dybantsa also part of the rebuild.

Davis showed his scoring ability late last season with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 30 points and 15 rebounds on 58 percent shooting across three December games. However, he played only five more games afterward and never appeared for Washington. His availability could decide how far this team goes.

The bigger question is whether the young players will get enough time to develop. Sharing the floor with several veterans could limit their chances to handle the ball and close games.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) poses for a photo during the Mavericks media day at American Airlines Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Dallas finished 26-56 last season, but Cooper Flagg gave the franchise a reason for hope. The rookie averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 70 games. He shot 46.8 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from 3-point range.

Flagg won Rookie of the Year with 56 first-place votes, finishing ahead of college teammate Kon Knueppel. He also became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game. His all-around impact stood out, as he joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies since steals were first tracked in 1973-74 to lead their teams in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

His production improved after the All-Star break, reaching 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Yahoo Sports also counted averages of 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists across his final 26 full games.

Dallas has more help coming. Kyrie Irving is expected to return after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. The Mavericks also added Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher, while Masai Ujiri and coach Dusty May lead the new setup.

Three-point shooting remains a weakness. Dallas ranked 26th in percentage and 27th in attempts last season. Even so, the team’s projected win total has risen to 34.5. If Flagg continues improving and Irving stays healthy, Dallas could exceed expectations.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Oklahoma City went 64-18 last season, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 31.1 points per game and second straight MVP award. The Thunder reached the Western Conference Finals before losing Game 7 to San Antonio, 111-103.

Their roster remains one of the league’s youngest, with an average age of 24.84. However, the front office made difficult decisions to manage the team’s finances. Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins were traded, while Isaiah Hartenstein signed a new three-year deal. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren begin their max contracts this season at $41.2 million each.

Oklahoma City also added rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz with the No. 12 and 16 picks, respectively. Holmgren finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, showing the team’s strength on both ends.

The challenge is replacing experienced rotation players with younger options. Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Mara and Stirtz could receive bigger roles. Williams’ health is another concern after he played only 38 games last season. He and Mitchell also missed the Game 7 loss.

The Thunder have the talent to remain near the top. Their NBA season will depend on whether their younger reserves can handle bigger responsibilities.

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half against the Atlanta Hawks at Frost Bank Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

San Antonio is the clearest example of a young team moving ahead of schedule. The Spurs went 62-20 last season, improving from 34-48 and recording their first 60-win campaign since 2016-17. They reached the NBA Finals but lost 4-1 to the New York Knicks.

Victor Wembanyama led the rise with 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game. He shot 51.2 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three across 64 appearances. His unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award made him the first player to earn that distinction. He also finished third in MVP voting.

The supporting cast gives San Antonio room to improve. Stephon Castle, the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year, and Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in 2025, provide young talent around Wembanyama. Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per game as a rookie.

Wembanyama has also agreed to a five-year extension that could exceed $250 million. His decision to leave some potential money on the table reportedly gives the franchise more flexibility to build around its core.

Health remains important, because he has played 71, 46 and 64 games across his first three seasons. Perimeter shooting is another concern, particularly with Castle, Harper and De’Aaron Fox. Still, San Antonio’s 59.5 projected win total reflects its standing among the league’s top teams.

Wembanyama is also a leading MVP favorite entering the season. If he stays healthy and the young supporting cast improves, the Spurs have a strong chance to return to the NBA Finals. Their rise makes San Antonio the team to watch in a season that could belong to the NBA’s young cores.