NBA: Power Ranking The 10 Youngest Teams
By John Kim
Mar 02, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The 10 youngest teams in the NBA range from an average of 24.5 to 25.8 years old. Despite being relatively close in age, some teams are the bottom dwellers in the league while others are enjoying success in the playoffs.
So, let’s power rank of the NBA’s 10 youngest teams:
10. Sacramento Kings (28-54) – The Kings are an absolutely dysfunctional franchise that had very little to celebrate this past season. Fortunately for them, new ownership and a new head coach (Mike Malone) may help turn things around. At the young average age of 25.8 years, there still may be chance to save the ship from sinking.
9. Orlando Magic (20-62) – After the departure of Dwight Howard, the Magic have had an extremely tough time trying to find their footing. Though the present is bleak, their future looks bright. Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic are hard-working players who impressed the league when they got a chance to play. They could anchor down Orlando’s future.
April 7, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) is guarded by Chicago Bulls center Nazr Mohammed (48) in the third quarter at The Palace. Detroit won 99-85. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
8. Detroit Pistons (29-53) – The Pistons are surprisingly one of the 10 youngest teams in the league at the average age of 25.7 years. To see a visual representation of what their season looked like, google DeAndre Jordan dunks over Brandon Knight’. Still, their first-round picks of Greg Monroe and Knight finally look to be maturing and producing.
7. New Orleans Hornets (27-55) – The Hornets, soon to be Pelicans, had some hopes of success before the season. With Eric Gordon hurt for much of the season, the Hornets never had any real shot at the playoffs. Luckily, Gordon started to show signs of his former explosive self and Anthony Davis put up fairly consistent numbers.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (24-58) – Kyrie Irving only played in 59 games and Anderson Varejao played in only 25 games, but the Cavaliers still won 24 games. The injuries were frustrating, but they gave the younger players time to shine. Dion Waiters showed glimpses of potential and Tristan Thompson was a force on the glass. They played just bad enough to nab themselves the first pick in the 2013 draft, but they have a solid young core in place that could blossom in the coming years.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (33-49) – Finishing with the 11th best record in the West, the Trail Blazers don’t have much to celebrate, but with an average team age of 24.7 years and the reigning Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, they certainly have much to look forward to in years to come.
4. Houston Rockets (45-37)– It’s difficult to gauge just how good the Rockets really are. They limped into the playoffs and put up a fight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets scored 106.1 points per game, good for second in the league. In the meantime, they gave up 102.5 points, third-worst in the league. They are a young (24.5 average age), ultra offensive team, and if they learn how to play some defense, they may find themselves climbing up the ladder.
May 3, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) hugs Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) after game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center. The Thunder defeated the Rockets 103-94. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
3. Denver Nuggets (57-25) – The Nuggets were a scary team throughout the regular season. At one point they went on a 15-game winning streak, hardly noticed due to Miami’s own win streak. Denver’s average age was 24.9 years, and though they played well enough to lock down the third seed in the West, Danilo Gallinari’s injury left them without their versatile wing player.
2. Golden State Warriors (47-35) – Preseason doubts about whether the Warriors would even reach the playoffs are long forgotten. With a trip to the Western Conference Semifinals, the Warriors proved on a national stage that they mean business. The 2012-13 Warriors team, if healthy, could have taken the top spot. The Warriors have an average age of 25.7 years. Led by the young trio of Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson, their potential is through the roof.
1. Indiana Pacers (49-32) – The Pacers edge out the Warriors in age and rank. With an average age of 25.8 years, the Pacers had an unexpectedly successful season by reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and being knocked out by the reigning champion Miami Heat. With the 23-year-old Paul George leading the way, expect the Pacers to make more noise with their physical brand of basketball.