The outdated NBA adage says youth doesn’t win video games. Although we’ve seen sufficient to know that’s largely true, we needed to crunch numbers to know to what extent that’s correct.
For this train, we went via all NBA rosters all through historical past, calculating the weighted common age of every workforce. We thought of gamers’ ages as of February 1 (roughly mid-season) and factored of their taking part in time. (For instance, a 22-year-old participant averaging 35 minutes per sport would have a higher affect on the ultimate end result than one taking part in solely 10 minutes.)
The primary takeaway is that, sure, the youngest groups in NBA historical past have just about zero playoff success, with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder being the only exception. Of the 25 youngest groups in NBA historical past, solely three made the playoffs: the 2009-10 Thunder, the 2010-11 Thunder and the 2023-24 Thunder. That speaks to OKC’s excellent report of constructing via the draft and bodes fairly properly for the workforce’s future.
Additionally price noting: 1956-57 Rochester Royals are the one workforce from the twentieth century on the record. Not that shocking contemplating gamers enter the NBA at a youthful age within the trendy period.
Anyhow, right here’s the rating with the youngest groups in league historical past.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 22.69 years outdated
Common season report: 22-60
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Jalen Inexperienced (20), Jabari Smith (19), KJ Martin (22), Alperen Sengun (20), Kevin Porter (22)
Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 22.97 years outdated
Common season report: 24-58
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23), Darius Bazley (21), Josh Giddey (19), Luguentz Dort (22), Tre Mann (21)
Jamie Squire/Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.30 years outdated
Common season report: 26-56
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Joe Johnson (24), Al Harrington (25), Josh Smith (20), Zaza Pachulia (21), Josh Childress (22)
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.33 years outdated
Common season report: 40-42
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24), Josh Giddey (20), Jalen Williams (21), Luguentz Dort (23), Isaiah Joe (23)
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.42 years outdated
Common season report: 22-50
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Theo Maledon (19), Darius Bazley (20), Luguentz Dort (21), Kenrich Williams (26), Isaiah Roby (23)
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.44 years outdated
Common season report: 22-60
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Devin Vassell (23), Jeremy Sochan (20), Tre Jones (24), Victor Wembanyama (20), Keldon Johnson (24)
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.61 years outdated
Common season report: 34-48
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Franz Wagner (21), Paolo Banchero (20), Markelle Fultz (24), Wendell Carter Jr (23), Cole Anthony (22)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.63 years outdated
Common season report: 50-32
Playoffs: Misplaced in first spherical to Lakers
Most used gamers: Kevin Durant (21), Jeff Inexperienced (23), Russell Westbrook (21), Thabo Sefolosha (25), Nenad Krstic (26)
Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.65 years outdated
Common season report: 23-49
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Anthony Edwards (19), Ricky Rubio (30), Karl-Anthony Cities (25), Jaden McDaniels (20), Naz Reid (21)
Brian Bahr /Allsport
Weighted common age: 23.76 years outdated
Common season report: 15-67
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Elton Model (21), Ron Mercer (24), Metta World Peace (21), Fred Hoiberg (28), Marcus Fizer (22)
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.77 years outdated
Common season report: 24-58
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: OJ Mayo (21), Rudy Homosexual (22), Marc Gasol (24), Mike Conley (21), Hakim Warrick (26)
Scott Halleran/Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.82 years outdated
Common season report: 18-64
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Nerlens Noel (20), Robert Covington (24), Luc Mbah a Moute (28), Hollis Thompson (23), Henry Sims (24)
Marty Lederhandler/Related Press
Weighted common age: 23.84 years outdated
Common season report: 31-41
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Maurice Stokes (23), Jack Twyman (22), Dick Ricketts (23), Richie Regan (26), Dave Piontek (22)
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.87 years outdated
Common season report: 38-44
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Gordon Hayward (24), Trey Burke (22), Derrick Favors (23), Rudy Gobert (22), Dante Exum (19)
Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.94 years outdated
Common season report: 10-72
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Hollis Thompson (24), Jerami Grant (21), Isaiah Canaan (24), Nerlens Noel (21), Robert Covington (25)
Elsa/Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 23.94 years outdated
Common season report: 10-72
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Al Jefferson (22), Ryan Gomes (24), Delonte West (23), Rajon Rondo (20), Gerald Inexperienced (21)
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.96 years outdated
Common season report: 57-25
Playoffs: Misplaced in second spherical to Mavericks
Most used gamers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25), Chet Holmgren (21), Luguentz Dort (24), Jalen Williams (22), Josh Giddey (21)
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.96 years outdated
Common season report: 17-65
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Kevin Knox (19), Damyean Dotson (24), Noah Vonleh (23), Emmanuel Mudiay (22), Tim Hardaway Jr (26)
Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.99 years outdated
Common season report: 22-60
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Franz Wagner (20), Cole Anthony (21), Wendell Carter Jr (22), Mo Bamba (23), Chuma Okeke (23)
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 23.99 years outdated
Common season report: 33-49
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Khris Middleton (24), Giannis Antetokounmpo (21), Jabari Parker (20), Greg Monroe (25), Michael Carter-Williams (24)
John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 24.06 years outdated
Common season report: 19-63
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Thaddeus Younger (25), Michael Carter-Williams (22), James Anderson (24), Evan Turner (25), Tony Wroten (20)
DAVID MAXWELL/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Weighted common age: 24.11 years outdated
Common season report: 17-65
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Ricky Davis (23), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (27), Jumaine Jones (23), Carlos Boozer (21), Darius Miles (21)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 24.14 years outdated
Common season report: 21-61
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: TJ Warren (24), Dragan Bender (20), Josh Jackson (20), Devin Booker (21), Tyler Ulis (22)
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 24.16 years outdated
Common season report: 55-27
Playoffs: Misplaced in Convention Finals to Mavericks
Most used gamers: Kevin Durant (22), Russell Westbrook (22), Serge Ibaka (21), James Harden (21), Thabo Sefolosha (26)
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports activities
Weighted common age: 24.21 years outdated
Common season report: 23-59
Playoffs: No
Most used gamers: Saddiq Bey (22), Cade Cunningham (20), Isaiah Stewart (20), Killian Hayes (20), Cory Joseph (30)
