While the NBA often emphasizes team depth, individual star power remains the ultimate determinant of success. Given that only five players can be on the court at once, assembling a formidable core of top-tier talent is crucial for championship aspirations. Even without a trio of established superstars, examining a team`s top three players offers vital insight into an organization`s immediate strength, long-term outlook, and strategic direction for the coming seasons. This comprehensive analysis evaluates and ranks the core trios of all 30 NBA teams, considering their current performance, future potential, and the likelihood of these key players staying together for the foreseeable future.
- A League of Their Own
- Knocking on the Door
- Best of the East
- Ascendant Young Teams
- Gap Years
- Old Stars with Big Questions
- Changing the Course
- Stuck in the Middle
- Starting a Rebuild
- Rebuilding
Tier 1: A League of Their Own
Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
The Oklahoma City Thunder undeniably lead this list. Last season, they achieved a remarkable 68 wins and secured their first championship, making history with one of the youngest title-winning rosters ever. General Manager Sam Presti further solidified their future this summer by extending long-term contracts to all three young core players, firmly establishing the Thunder as perennial favorites for the Larry O`Brien Trophy for years to come.
Last year: Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Williams
Tier 2: Knocking on the Door
Denver Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray
The Denver Nuggets were potentially two difficult Western Conference semifinal Game 7s away—one against Minnesota two years ago and another against Oklahoma City last season, where Gordon played injured—from contending for a third consecutive championship. Despite this, Denver still boasts Nikola Jokic, arguably the best player in the game, complemented by co-stars Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, who consistently perform in high-pressure playoff situations.
Last year: Gordon, Jokic, Murray
Tier 3: Best of the East
Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley
Similar to the Thunder, the Cleveland Cavaliers feature a core trio of prime-age or younger stars, all under long-term contracts, and are coming off a 64-win season. However, Cleveland`s playoff journey ended prematurely with a five-game loss to the Indiana Pacers in the second round, preventing them from being ranked higher. A deeper playoff run next season could significantly elevate their standing.
Last year: Garland, Mitchell, Mobley
New York Knicks: OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns
The New York Knicks begin the season having parted ways with coach Tom Thibodeau, fresh off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years. This move signals the Knicks` confidence that their current roster can finally end a half-century championship drought. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns stand out as elite offensive talents at point guard and center, respectively, while OG Anunoby provides exceptional wing defense coupled with strong 3-point shooting.
Last year: Anunoby, Brunson, Towns
Tier 4: Ascendant Young Teams
Atlanta Hawks: Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher
The Hawks feature the same core trio for a second consecutive season, amidst a rapid and intriguing roster overhaul led by new General Manager Onsi Saleh. While Trae Young is still their top player and Kristaps Porzingis could be second, both are potential unrestricted free agents next summer. Dyson Daniels earned Most Improved Player honors last season, Jalen Johnson is a popular breakout candidate if he stays healthy, and Zaccharie Risacher, though not a top-tier prospect like Flagg or Wembanyama, delivered a solid rookie season after being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
Last year: Daniels, Johnson, Risacher
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Ron Holland, Ausar Thompson
A year ago, the Pistons faced significant roster uncertainty, particularly regarding Cade Cunningham`s ability to lead as a star. Cunningham answered decisively with a brilliant All-Star and All-NBA campaign, guiding Detroit to its first playoff appearance since 2019. While questions persist about the supporting cast, young talents like Ron Holland, Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren offer promising options to solidify the core around Cunningham.
Last year: Cunningham, Holland, Ivey
Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson
Houston`s roster has seen considerable changes over the last year. Amen Thompson, a near-miss for this trio last season, has clearly blossomed since being the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, and an unfortunate ACL tear to Fred VanVleet in preseason could accelerate his leap this season. While the absence of Kevin Durant might seem surprising, this ranking focuses on long-term commitment and player trajectories. Durant currently lacks a contract extension, while Reed Sheppard is positioned to be the starting point guard and a crucial long-term asset for Houston.
Last year: Sengun, Sheppard, VanVleet
Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle
After just one first-round playoff advancement in their initial 34 years, Minnesota has now reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, falling to the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The immediate challenge is how to progress further, especially with the Thunder`s continued rise in the West. Key to this will be sustained improvement from Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Julius Randle joins the core trio following his long-term extension signed this offseason.
Last year: Edwards, McDaniels, Rudy Gobert
Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner
Jalen Suggs` knee injury derailment last season underscored his importance to Orlando, despite not being on a max contract like Banchero and Wagner. This summer, the Magic acquired Desmond Bane for a substantial price, seeing him as an ideal complement to their young, homegrown talent. With Suggs still sidelined, Bane steps into the core. The Magic`s success this season, particularly in a competitive Eastern Conference, will largely depend on Banchero and Wagner`s ability to significantly improve their efficiency.
Last year: Banchero, Suggs, Wagner
San Antonio Spurs: De`Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Victor Wembanyama
It`s rare for a Rookie of the Year winner, like Stephon Castle (picked fourth last season), to fall out of a team`s core. Yet, the Spurs managed this by acquiring All-Star point guard De`Aaron Fox via trade and drafting another promising guard, Dylan Harper, with the second lottery pick. A major storyline for the upcoming NBA season will be how these diverse talents integrate around Victor Wembanyama, the undeniable cornerstone of San Antonio`s future.
Last year: Wembanyama, Castle, Devin Vassell
Tier 5: Gap Years
Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White
A year ago, the Boston Celtics were celebrating their 18th banner and seemed poised for a 19th championship. However, Jayson Tatum`s unfortunate Achilles tear against the Knicks in the conference semifinals in May has put their aspirations on hold. This season is likely to be a holding pattern as they await Tatum`s return, hoping to re-enter the title race in the 2026-27 season. Nevertheless, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White remain formidable wing players, envied by many teams they will face this year.
Last year: Brown, Tatum, White
Indiana Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam
Heading into Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana was on the verge of a much higher ranking, fueled by Coach Rick Carlisle and Tyrese Haliburton`s exciting style of play and a playoff run marked by historic comebacks. However, Haliburton`s Achilles tear in the final game of the 2024-25 season means the Pacers face a challenging year until his anticipated return next season. A potential upside is that Haliburton`s absence, combined with Andrew Nembhard`s brilliant playoff emergence, might provide an opportunity for Bennedict Mathurin, a former lottery pick who fell out of the core, to re-establish his role.
Last year: Haliburton, Siakam, Mathurin
Tier 6: Old Stars with Big Questions
Dallas Mavericks: Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving
The Dallas Mavericks` landscape has dramatically shifted from a year ago, when Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were coming off an NBA Finals appearance. Now, Irving is recovering from a torn ACL, Doncic has moved to Los Angeles, and thanks to stunning lottery luck, Cooper Flagg headlines the roster, playing alongside Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. While hard to fathom, Dallas could still be competitive this season, but it hinges on Flagg`s immediate impact, Davis`s health, and Irving`s timely recovery and return to form by playoff time.
Last year: Irving, Doncic, Dereck Lively
Golden State Warriors: Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green
Last season, after acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline, the Warriors achieved a 22-5 record with both Butler and Curry active. They believe a hamstring injury to Curry, sidelining him for the rest of the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, prevented them from reaching the Western Conference Finals. This team undeniably possesses a high ceiling when healthy. However, with all core players aged 35 or older, their health will be a persistent concern throughout the season.
Last year: Curry, Green, Brandin Podziemski
LA Clippers: James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
The Clippers had a busy offseason, bringing in John Collins, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul, and expect strong performances from James Harden and Ivica Zubac. However, Kawhi Leonard remains the team`s biggest question mark, both on and off the court. Can Leonard, who has missed over 40% of possible games for the Clippers in the last six seasons and played only 37 last year, stay healthy? Additionally, an ongoing investigation into potential cap circumvention could pose issues for him and the team.
Last year: Harden, Leonard, Zubac
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves
The Lakers reasonably believe a squad led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James can challenge any opponent. However, this hinges on both players remaining healthy. With James facing a sciatica issue that could sideline him at the start of the season—a first in his illustrious career—and approaching his 41st birthday as the league`s oldest player, health will be a continuous concern. This is compounded by potential shooting struggles and defensive vulnerabilities both on the perimeter and in the paint.
Last year: James, Reaves, Anthony Davis
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Myles Turner
Giannis Antetokounmpo`s future in Milwaukee is a widely discussed topic across the NBA, as Shams Charania recently reported. Despite this, he remains a Buck as the season approaches and, if healthy, is expected to be an MVP candidate given his increased ball-handling responsibilities. Myles Turner replaces Brook Lopez as the floor-spacing center in the core. However, the significant downgrade from Damian Lillard (now in Portland) to Bobby Portis (or another third player) highlights why Milwaukee could face a challenging season, even with a healthy Antetokounmpo leading the charge.
Last year: Antetokounmpo, Lillard, Lopez
Tier 7: Changing the Course
Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies face numerous hurdles: Jaren Jackson Jr. is recovering from offseason surgery, Ja Morant is likely to miss the start of the season with an ankle sprain, and Zach Edey also underwent offseason surgery. Furthermore, both Jaylen Wells (third in Rookie of the Year voting last season) and Cedric Coward (drafted 11th after Memphis traded up) ended last season injured. The trade of Desmond Bane reshaped the roster, with Memphis betting heavily on Coward, but the team`s ultimate success still hinges on Morant and Jackson. This situation underscores how quickly dynamics can shift in the NBA, as the Morant-Jackson-Bane trio was recently considered an elite young foundation.
Last year: Morant, Jackson, Bane
Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
In Philadelphia, questions are always plentiful. The primary concern remains Joel Embiid`s health, closely followed by Paul George`s availability. Should both stay on the court, the 76ers could be a significant force in the East. However, their consistent presence is uncertain. George, despite being in the second year of a max extension signed last summer, falls out of the core trio this season, replaced by VJ Edgecombe, the third overall pick in June`s draft.
Last year: Embiid, Maxey, George
Tier 8: Stuck in the Middle
Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, Josh Giddey
The Chicago Bulls appear perpetually stuck. While some might argue for a lower tier, that would imply a definite commitment to a full rebuild, which history suggests is unlikely. They are more likely to finish with 38-39 wins and compete in the play-in tournament, a plausible outcome in the current Eastern Conference. Josh Giddey is a core player after signing a long-term deal this offseason. Coby White, despite being arguably the team`s best player, is not included due to his expiring contract. Instead, Noa Essengue, this year`s No. 12 pick, and Matas Buzelis, last year`s No. 11 pick, form part of the young core.
Last year: Giddey, White, Patrick Williams
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kel`el Ware
The Miami Heat, unaccustomed to stagnation, find themselves in a middling position after another play-in finish last season. With Jimmy Butler now in Golden State, the Heat are actively searching for their next long-term star to complement Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro could potentially fill this role if he builds on his All-Star caliber season. Kel`el Ware also shows promise as an active, defensive big man. However, the team requires more talent to escape its current predicament, even within the Eastern Conference.
Last year: Adebayo, Herro, Jimmy Butler
Sacramento Kings: Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
The thrilling seven-game series against the Warriors in the 2023 playoffs now feels like a distant memory. De`Aaron Fox has moved to San Antonio, Mike Brown to New York, and the Kings have strangely transformed into a re-imagined Chicago Bulls squad with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan reunited. Keegan Murray is poised for a contract extension and represents the sole long-term bright spot, despite a thumb injury that will sideline him for the start of the season. The rest of the roster consists of players either in their prime or past it, leaving the team`s future direction uncertain.
Last year: Murray, Sabonis, Fox
Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Collin Murray-Boyles
Scottie Barnes` place in the core was secured with a substantial max contract extension. He is joined by Brandon Ingram, acquired at last season`s trade deadline, and Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto`s No. 9 pick in the June NBA draft. Despite these additions, the long-term potential of this trio appears limited to a competitive first-round playoff exit, similar to the latter years of the Raptors` previous playoff-contending teams.
Last year: Barnes, Gradey Dick, Immanuel Quickley
Tier 9: Starting a Rebuild
Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller
Entering their second full season under General Manager Jeff Peterson and Coach Charles Lee, the Hornets aim for their intriguing young talent to be on the court more consistently, following last season`s injury setbacks to players like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. These injuries, however, allowed Charlotte to draft Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick in June, who is expected to perfectly complement Ball and Miller on the wings. The primary questions now lie in the interior, where Charlotte is rebuilding after trading Mark Williams, a key core member last season, to Phoenix in June following a failed trade to the Lakers in February.
Last year: Ball, Miller, Williams
New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen, Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson reported to training camp in excellent condition, sparking hopes that New Orleans will finally see sustained health and high-level play from him this season. While Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy are still with the team, the architect behind their acquisitions, David Griffin, is no longer General Manager. Consequently, the new front office`s two lottery picks, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, now form part of the Pelicans` core. Queen`s development will be closely watched, especially given the Pelicans traded an unprotected pick in next year`s strong draft to Atlanta to acquire him.
Last year: Williamson, Murray, Murphy
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, Khaman Maluach
A year has brought dramatic change to the Phoenix Suns. Last season, their roster was an expensive assemblage of stars: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. Now, Durant and Beal are gone, leaving Booker as the sole remaining star. With significant dead money on their books and no control over their own draft picks for the rest of the decade, the Suns are embarking on a rebuild. While promising young talents like Ryan Dunn and Khaman Maluach are present, turning the franchise around will require substantial time and a level of patience from the Suns that has been absent since Mat Ishbia`s ownership began over two years ago.
Last year: Booker, Beal, Durant
Tier 10: Rebuilding
Brooklyn Nets: Nic Claxton, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore
The Nets` direction is evident from June`s NBA draft, where they held and utilized all five of their first-round picks, selecting Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, guards Drake Powell and Ben Saraf, and big man Danny Wolf. These players, alongside Noah Clowney (a first-round pick two years prior), represent Brooklyn`s future, augmented by prospects from the 2026 draft. Nic Claxton remains a core member due to his long-term contract and potential to regain his previous form at his age. Cam Thomas, however, is not part of this core, having signed only a one-year qualifying offer this offseason.
Last year: Claxton, Clowney, Thomas
Portland Trail Blazers: Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe
Portland`s strategic direction remains one of the league`s most ambiguous. The Blazers possess a roster brimming with intriguing young talent, including Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Yang Hansen. Yet, this offseason they acquired Jrue Holiday and re-signed Damian Lillard, despite Lillard not playing this season. Questions abound: Will Jerami Grant start? What about Henderson upon his return from a hamstring injury? Where does Deni Advija, arguably last year`s best player, fit into the starting lineup? The sheer volume of uncertainties makes discerning Portland`s true objectives challenging, promising a fascinating season.
Last year: Clingan, Henderson, Sharpe
Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton, Lauri Markkanen
The Utah Jazz, once again, maintained their unfortunate streak of never moving up in the NBA draft lottery, resulting in the fifth pick despite having the league`s worst record. Nevertheless, in Austin Ainge`s first move as President of Basketball Operations, they drafted Ace Bailey, a consensus top-three selection throughout the season. Ainge then secured Walter Clayton, the national championship-winning point guard, with the No. 18 pick, establishing him as a core player. Walker Kessler is not part of the core without a contract extension, and Lauri Markkanen aims to recapture his form from two seasons prior.
Last year: Markkanen, Keyonte George, Kessler
Washington Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr
The Washington Wizards, whose high lottery hopes were also unfulfilled, remain dedicated to developing their young talent. Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Tre Johnson, their top selections from the past three drafts, form the core of Washington`s future. This season will focus on identifying which of their numerous young players—now totaling ten on first-round rookie contracts—can step forward and establish themselves.
Last year: Coulibaly, Sarr, Bub Carrington
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