Spurs run to the 2026 NBA Finals outdid Thunder's 2025 roster in this category

The Spurs faced a 2-3 deficit against the Thunder a few days ago, but now find themselves in the 2026 NBA Finals, after winning two straight elimination games against the defending NBA champions.

The Thunder were virtually unstoppable last season, and even in moments where it could have gone wrong for them, they held their composure together despite having such a young core with relatively little playoff experience.

That young core having success so soon was unheard of, yet the Spurs just did something this year that makes last year's Thunder team somehow look less impressive.

Spurs run to the 2026 NBA Finals outdid Thunder's 2025 roster in this category

With the Spurs advancing to the 2026 NBA Finals, they are now the second-youngest team in the shot clock era to make an appearance in the NBA Finals.

The average age of their roster this season is a half a year younger than the Thunder's from last year.

MORE: How much NBA Finals experience do the Knicks and Spurs rosters have?

It was just a few seasons ago that the Thunder were still in a rebuild and were beginning to make strides back towards being a contending team.

Luckily for them, players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams were able to develop very quickly and became all-star-level players just a few years after being drafted.

A couple of trade acquisitions and important role players added to their roster helped shape a championship-level roster that really only needed two postseason runs to get a title under their belt.

MORE: Every Spurs player's nickname from Victor Wembanyama to Luke Kornet

The Spurs now have the opportunity to do the same. Winning an NBA title this soon would arguably be more impressive, as several key players in their core are just as young:

• Victor Wembanyam: 3rd season
• Stephon Castle: 2nd season
• Dylan Harper: Rookie

They have a tough task ahead, as they'll face a red-hot Knicks team, but they'll have the confidence knowing they just came out on top in an extremely tough series against a team that's done what the Knicks and Spurs haven't yet, which is a 16-win postseason.

More NBA news:

• NBA players reveal most likely outcome for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and it's not what you think
• Jaylen Brown revealed as trade candidate for 3 teams by NBA insider
• Wizards receiving inquiries on their No. 1 draft pick from multiple teams
• Bucks' scouting activity around NBA Draft indicates potential trade ahead
• Adam Silver gives opinion on state of officiating and flopping in the NBA