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 Moodyas 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).
Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
2004 Final stats: 0.7 rpg, 1.3 mpg in three games
Pistons won 4-1 vs. LA Lakers
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
2000 Final stats: 3.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg in two games
Pacers lost 4-1 vs LA Lakers
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Final stats: 2.2 mpg in two games
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
2022 Final stats: 1.0 ppg, 3.6 mpg in two games
AP Photo
1977 Final stats: 7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 18.7 mpg, 44.8 FG%
Sixers lost 4-2 vs. Trail Blazers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2020 Final stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 36.8 FG%, 36.7 3P%
Heat lost 4-2 vs. Lakers
Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
1980 Final stats: 21.5 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 8.7 apg, 46.2 FG%
Lakers won 4-2 vs. Sixers
JAMES NIELSEN/AFP via Getty Images
2003 Final stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 38.6 FG%, 42.9 3P%
Spurs won 4-2 vs. Nets
1948 Final stats: 3.0ppg
Warriors lost 4-2 vs. Bullets
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
2007 Final stats: 10.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 43.9 FG%, 31.6 3P%
Cavaliers lost 4-0 vs Spurs
1947 Final stats: 10.0ppg
Stags lost 4-1 vs. Warriors
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
2018 Final stats: 2.0 ppg, 1.7 mpg in three games
Cavaliers lost 4-1 vs. Warriors
1950 Final stats: 12.5ppg
Lakers won 4-2 vs. Nationals
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
2008 Final stats: 7.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 48.4 FG%, 52.9 3P%
Lakers lost 4-2 vs. Celtics
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
2007 Final stats: 1 second played
Cavaliers lost 4-0 vs Spurs
AP Photo/Harry Harris
1977 Final stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg, 42.9 FG%
Trail Blazers won 4-2 vs. Sixers
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
2017 Final stats: 2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 6.8 mpg, 27.3 FG%
Warriors won 4-1 vs. Cavaliers
Larry W. Smith-Pool/Getty Images
2009 Final stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 36.4 FG%
Lakers won 4-1 vs. Magic
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
2000 Final stats: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 36.7 FG%, 20.0 3P%
Lakers won 4-2 vs. Pacers
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
2013 Final stats: 1.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 7.1 mpg, 44.4 FG%
Spurs lost 4-3 vs Heat
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1976 Final stats: 23.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 48.8 FG%
Suns lost 4-2 vs. Celtics
AP Photo
1950 Final stats: 17.3ppg
Nationals lost 4-2 vs. Lakers
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