The youngest players in NBA Finals history
Young players typically don’t get minutes in the playoffs, but sometimes, they earn them, even on a stage as grand as the NBA Finals. Other times, young players get minutes in garbage time.
That was the case this year with Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, as both young Golden State Warriors players got playing time in the series against the Boston Celtics, making them the third- and fourth-youngest players in NBA Finals history.
The ranking is led by Darko Milicic and is mostly full of guys with minor roles in the Finals like Milicic, Kuminga and Moody (so far), but you also have some guys who had major roles, like Tony Parker in 2003, Tyler Herro in 2020 and, memorably, Kobe Bryant in 2000.
There’s even a Finals MVP on the list.
The legendary Magic Johnson won that accolade in 1980 after averaging 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 2.7 steals in a six-game championship win for the Los Angeles Lakers, stats he put up… as a 20-year-old.
Sheesh.
Check out the full rankings below.
(The ages listed are for their first game in the NBA Finals).
Darko Milicic (Detroit): 18 years and 356 days
Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
2004 Finals stats: 0.7 rpg, 1.3 mpg in three games
Pistons won 4-1 vs LA Lakers
Jonathan Bender (Indiana): 19 years and 129 days
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
2000 Finals stats: 3.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg in two games
Pacers lost 4-1 vs LA Lakers
Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State): 19 years and 239 days
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Finals stats: 2.2 mpg in two games
Moses Moody (Golden State): 20 years and two days
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Finals stats: 1.0 ppg, 3.6 mpg in two games
Darryl Dawkins (Philadelphia): 20 years and 131 days
AP Photo
1977 Finals stats: 7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 18.7 mpg, 44.8 FG%
Sixers lost 4-2 vs Trail Blazers
Tyler Herro (Miami): 20 years and 254 days
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2020 Finals stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 36.8 FG%, 36.7 3P%
Heat lost 4-2 vs Lakers
Magic Johnson (LA Lakers): 20 years and 264 days
Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
1980 Finals stats: 21.5 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 8.7 apg, 46.2 FG%
Lakers won 4-2 vs Sixers
Tony Parker (San Antonio): 21 years and 18 days
JAMES NIELSEN/AFP via Getty Images
2003 Finals stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 38.6 FG%, 42.9 3P%
Spurs won 4-2 vs Nets
Bob O'Brien (Philadelphia Warriors): 21 years and 75 days
1948 Finals stats: 3.0 ppg
Warriors lost 4-2 vs Bullets
Daniel Gibson (Cleveland): 21 years and 100 days
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
2007 Finals stats: 10.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 43.9 FG%, 31.6 3P%
Cavaliers lost 4-0 vs Spurs
Max Zaslofsky (Chicago Stags): 21 years and 130 days
1947 Finals stats: 10.0 ppg
Stags lost 4-1 vs Warriors
Ante Zizic (Cleveland): 21 years and 147 days
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2018 Finals stats: 2.0 ppg, 1.7 mpg in three games
Cavaliers lost 4-1 vs Warriors
Vern Mikkelsen (Minneapolis Lakers): 21 years and 169 days
1950 Finals stats: 12.5 ppg
Lakers won 4-2 vs Nationals
Jordan Farmar (LA Lakers): 21 years and 188 days
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
2008 Finals stats: 7.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 48.4 FG%, 52.9 3P%
Lakers lost 4-2 vs Celtics
Shannon Brown (Cleveland): 21 years and 197 days
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
2007 Finals stats: 1 second played
Cavaliers lost 4-0 vs Spurs
Johnny Davis (Portland): 21 years and 213 days
AP Photo/Harry Harris
1977 Finals stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 42.9 FG%
Trail Blazers won 4-2 vs Sixers
Patrick McCaw (Golden State): 21 years and 219 days
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
2017 Finals stats: 2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 6.8 mpg, 27.3 FG%
Warriors won 4-1 vs Cavaliers
Andrew Bynum (LA Lakers): 21 years and 220 days
Larry W. Smith-Pool/Getty Images
2009 Finals stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 36.4 FG%
Lakers won 4-1 vs Magic
Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers): 21 years and 289 days
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
2000 Finals stats: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 36.7 FG%, 20.0 3P%
Lakers won 4-2 vs Pacers
Cory Joseph (San Antonio): 21 years and 290 days
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
2013 Finals stats: 1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 7.1 mpg, 44.4 FG%
Spurs lost 4-3 vs Heat
Alvan Adams (Phoenix): 21 years and 309 days
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1976 Finals stats: 23.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 48.8 FG%
Suns lost 4-2 vs Celtics
Dolph Schayes (Syracuse Nationals): 21 years and 324 days
AP Photo
1950 Finals stats: 17.3 ppg
Nationals lost 4-2 vs Lakers
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