SB Nation doesn’t think the Utah Jazz have a young core good enough for the Top 10

The Utah Jazz disrespect is real.

The Utah Jazz have, admittedly, one of the best crop of young players in the league. 2023 NBA Draft picks Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh join Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler, and Talen Horton-Tucker to help fortify a young Jazz core. The Jazz aren’t just flushed with very young talent either, still, young Lauri Markkanen and John Collins are either the two best players on the team or two of the best players on the team.

And neither man has entered their prime yet. You’d think narrowly missing the playoffs after sitting Markkanen down the stretch would show the NBA Media that the Jazz’s already good young core from last year just got better.

But that isn’t the case.

SBNation released a list of the 10 best young cores in their opinion, and wouldn’t you know it, some key teams are missing.

Now, before we get into who’s missing, let’s talk about who we agree with. Yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder are loaded with young talent. They’re obviously the number one team in that regard, as they’re playoff contenders finally. The Memphis Grizzlies (if Ja Moran can keep himself together), and the Orlando Magic also make the list ahead of anyone else. Those would be our #1-#3.

Outside of them, the Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers should absolutely be in the top five. Everyone else has one good, young talent to lean on. The Hornets don’t have much beyond LaMelo Ball, while the San Antonio Spurs’ young core isn’t really making any waves beside Victor Wambenyana.

The Detroit Piston’s young core hasn’t produced anything of value, while the Houston Rocket’s young core is filled with guys who are underperforming or can’t stay out of trouble.

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have a great young player in Anthony Edwards, are we still including Karl-Anthony Towns on the list? It seems like this list focuses more on who has the best young superstar on their team.

Which would explain how the New Orleans Pelicans made it on the list, despite its roster not being known for its youth. Zion Williamson clearly was the focal point putting them in the top 10 but he’s not even capable of getting on the court, so how does having an injury-prone player like him warrant a Top 10 spot, but the Jazz’s roster doesn’t?

Make it make sense.