Not only did the Oklahoma City Thunder win the NBA title, they did so with one of the youngest cores in league history – actually the fifth-youngest ever, according to our research.
For this analysis, we looked at the three players with the highest statistical impact during each team’s playoff run. In OKC’s case, that’s clearly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, who together combine for a mere 74.3 years of age. That’s 3.5 years younger than the Warriors’ Big Three when they kicked off their dynasty in 2015.
So yes, the future is looking pretty, pretty good for the Thunder.
Anyway, check out the ranking with the youngest championship cores down below.
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Top three playoff performers: Connie Simmons (23.2 years old upon winning the title), Paul Hoffman (23.2), Kleggie Hermsen (25.2)
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Top three playoff performers: Tim Duncan (27.1), Tony Parker (21.1), Stephen Jackson (25.2)
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Top three playoff performers: Bill Walton (24.6), Maurice Lucas (25.3), Lionel Hollins (23.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Gus Williams (25.7), Dennis Johnson (24.7), Jack Sikma (23.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27.0), Jalen Williams (24.2), Chet Holmgren (23.2)
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Top three playoff performers: Bill Russell (23.3), Tommy Heinsohn (22.8), Bob Cousy (28.8)
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Top three playoff performers: George Mikan (26.0), Jim Pollard (27.9), Vern Mikkelsen (21.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Dolph Schayes (27.1), Red Kerr (22.9), Paul Seymour (27.4)
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Top three playoff performers: Larry Bird (24.5), Robert Parish (27.8), Cedric Maxwell (25.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Stephen Curry (27.2), Draymond Green (25.3), Klay Thompson (25.3)
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Top three playoff performers: Shaquille O’Neal (29.3), Kobe Bryant (22.8), Derek Fisher (26.8)
Top three playoff performers: Paul Arizin (28.2), Neil Johnston (27.3), Tom Gola (23.4)
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Top three playoff performers: Nikola Jokic (28.3), Jamal Murray (26.3), Michael Porter (24.9)
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Top three playoff performers: Rick Barry (31.2), Jamaal Wilkes (22.1), Clifford Ray (26.4)
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Top three playoff performers: Joe Fulks (25.6), Angelo Musi (28.9), George Senesky (25.2)
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Top three playoff performers: Michael Jordan (28.3), Scottie Pippen (25.7), Horace Grant (25.9)
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Top three playoff performers: Tim Duncan (29.1), Manu Ginobili (27.9), Tony Parker (23.1)
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Top three playoff performers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24.2), Bob Dandridge (23.6), Oscar Robertson (32.5)
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Top three playoff performers: Bill Russell (25.3), Bob Cousy (30.8), Tommy Heinsohn (24.8)
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Top three playoff performers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33.2), Magic Johnson (20.8), Jamaal Wilkes (27.1)
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Top three playoff performers: George Mikan (28.0), Vern Mikkelsen (23.6), Jim Pollard (29.9)