No Utah Jazz player makes the 25 under 25 list and that's a problem

Potential is a wonderful thing. If you're an NBA team that has a player with potential, there is the possibility that you have a future star on your hands. The only problem is there are only a handful of genuine stars in this league and more played with unfilled potential to count. It's impossible to know if the Utah Jazz have the star of the tomorrow on their roster today, but we hope Many think it's Keyonte George but that's not a guarantee.

It could be Lauri Markkanen, but the newly minted 27-year-old, but as he's currently in his prime, it's not really fair to say he's the future of the team; he's the present. He's the current force driving the team, and that could be a thing for him and the Jazz for the next six or so years. But you want long-term stability and while a potential six-seasons of the dynamic ball may sound great, the NBA moves fast.

Before you know it, you're halfway through that expected run and nothing has gone according to plan. Things change fast, which is why you need a younger player to help build around. George could be that guy. Walker Kessler could be that guy. We simply don't know.

What we do know is that none of the players on the Utah Jazz roster who are 25 or under have made enough waves to make it onto The Ringer's Top 25 players list who are 25 and under. Admittedly it's not surprising that the Jazz don't, with the 25th player Jabari Smith Jr. and the top player being Victor Wembanyama. Are they living in recency bias by having Wembanyama over Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic? Absolutely, so take their list with a measure of salt.

Still, while their list's order is in doubt, their evaluation, or lack thereof, of the Utah Jazz, isn't inaccurate. They don't have a player 25 and under who you can really be excited about and that's a problem. The Utah Jazz need to secure their future with some youth, which is why I'm a big proponent of not trading away every draft pick the team has this and next season.

The Utah Jazz need to prepare for tomorrow but plan for the future at the same time.