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The Spurs are ahead of schedule.
The players in San Antonio's locker room might not feel the same way — some might have expected to be playing for a championship all along — but NBA Finals runs with a 22-year-old leading the charge are exceptionally rare.
\Victor Wembanyama joined LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as one of three players age 22 or younger to lead a team in scoring on the way to the NBA Finals this century, but the Spurs' youth goes beyond Wembanyama, from former Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle to No. 2 pick Dylan Harper.
Here's a look at the Spurs' average age and how it compares to some of the youngest teams ever to compete for an NBA title.
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Spurs roster age
The Spurs' roster has an average age of 26.8, making them the 23rd-oldest team in the NBA, according to NBAage.com.
Wait, what?
If that doesn't sound right, it's because it hardly tells the full story. Three of the Spurs' oldest players are out of Mitch Johnson's rotation, and none of San Antonio's seven oldest players have been starters in the playoffs. The team's average roster age weighs Mason Plumlee (36) and Kelly Olynyk (35) equally against Dylan Harper (20) and Victor Wembanyama (22).
When weighted by minutes, the Spurs have an average age of 25.5, ranking 12th-youngest in the NBA. When weighted by usage, the average age drops to just 24.3, or 10th-youngest in the NBA.
Of the nine teams younger than the Spurs by usage, only two made the playoffs: the 76ers and Hawks. The seven youngest teams by usage all missed the playoffs, and all other than the Hornets also missed the Play-In Tournament.
Here's a look at the Spurs' roster, from youngest to oldest:
| Player | Position | Age | MPG in playoffs |
| Carter Bryant | F | 20 | 9.6 |
| Dylan Harper | G | 20 | 25.6 |
| Stephon Castle | G | 21 | 33.4 |
| Victor Wembanyama | F | 22 | 32.5 |
| Harrison Ingram (two-way) | F | 23 | 0.0 |
| Julian Champagnie | F | 24 | 30.4 |
| David Jones Garcia (two-way) | F | 24 | 0.0 |
| Emanuel Miller (two-way) | F | 25 | 0.0 |
| Devin Vassell | G | 25 | 33.8 |
| Keldon Johnson | F | 26 | 18.7 |
| De'Aaron Fox | G | 28 | 32.6 |
| Lindy Waters III | F | 28 | 3.8 |
| Luke Kornet | C | 30 | 14.1 |
| Jordan McLaughlin | G | 30 | 4.6 |
| Bismack Biyombo | C | 33 | 2.8 |
| Harrison Barnes | F | 34 | 9.2 |
| Kelly Olynyk | F | 35 | 3.9 |
| Mason Plumlee | C | 36 | 3.0 |
With 28-year-old De'Aaron Fox the oldest player averaging more than 15 minutes per game in the playoffs, the Spurs are bringing a youth movement to the NBA Finals.
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Youngest teams to play in NBA Finals
| Year | Team | Result |
| 1977 | Trail Blazers | Def. 76ers |
| 2026 | Spurs | TBD |
| 2025 | Thunder | Def. Pacers |
| 1986 | Rockets | Lost to Celtics |
| 1977 | 76ers | Lost to Trail Blazers |
Because many of San Antonio's reserve veterans don't see the floor outside of the final minutes or seconds of a blowout, the Spurs are the second-youngest team in NBA history to play in the NBA Finals when weighted by playoff minutes played, according to data compiled by Sportico's Lev Akabas.
San Antonio trails only the 1977 Trail Blazers, and the familiar 2025 Thunder sit right behind the Spurs.
MORE: Inside Victor Wembanyama's family tree
Youngest teams to win NBA Finals
| Year | Team | Finals opponent |
| 1977 | Trail Blazers | 76ers |
| 2025 | Thunder | Pacers |
| 1980 | Lakers | 76ers |
| 2015 | Warriors | Cavaliers |
| 2023 | Nuggets | Heat |
The 1977 Trail Blazers and 2025 Thunder aren't only the two youngest teams to make the NBA Finals, but they are the two youngest teams to win a championship as well when weighted by minutes played, per Sportico.
After Portland Oklahoma City, Magic Johnson's 1980 Lakers, Stephen Curry's 2015 Warriors and Nikola Jokic's 2023 Nuggets are the next-youngest to finish the job. By this metric, the Spurs would slot in right behind the Trail Blazers if they won a title.
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