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Winning an NBA championship is an impressive feat to achieve, even more so if a franchise manages to do it with a young roster.
The modern era of the NBA has been all about experienced teams pipping relatively young sides to the title. But there have been a few exceptions where youth has triumphed over experience.
On that note, here's a look at the five youngest teams in terms of average age to have won the NBA championship:
#5 1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers - 25.94 years
The 1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers were led by the talismanic George Mikan, who is revered as one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
The Lakers went on to win the championship that season despite having an extremely young roster with an average age of 25.9 years. They defeated the New York Knickerbockers in seven games, winning the final game by an emphatic 82-65 scoreline.
Mikan was instrumental in the Lakers' success that season, averaging 23.8 points per game. The young side was coached by John Kundla, and finished second in the Western Conference at the end of the regular season.
#4 1954-55 Syracuse Nationals - 25.86 years
The Syracuse Nationals entered the 1954-55 NBA season led by point guard George King, who later played a pivotal role in helping the team win a championship.
They defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games, with Game 7 being a tightly contested affair. The game ended 92-91, with King stealing the inbound pass made by the Pistons in the dying moments of the game.
In the regular season, they finished first in the Eastern Conference, with a 43-29 record. They had an impressive 25-7 home record as head coach Al Cervi led the young team to their first NBA championship in only their sixth season in the league.
Syracuse National owner Danny Biasone played a key role in introducing a reduced shot clock that year, which saw an immediate bump in scoring and assist numbers.
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#3 1979-80 LA Lakers - 25.71 years
1979-80 LA Lakers started the 'showtime era', with rookie point guard Magic Johnson dictating the offense and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar operating in the post. Both players are widely regarded as the best players in their positions, and Jabbar still holds the record for most points ever scored.
The team, coached by Paul Westhead, won the NBA championship that year by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. Apart from Johnson and Jabbar, the other notable players in that team were Kurt Rambis, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and Michael Cooper.
The 1979-80 LA Lakers hold the distinction of being one of the most entertaining NBA teams of all time. That was thanks to Johnson's flashy passing and Jabbar's 'Sky Hook' shot.
#2 1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors - 25.58 years
Playing their first season under George Senesky's tutelage, the 1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors won the NBA championship by defeating the Fort Wayne Pistons in five games.
They reached the Finals by beating a strong Syracuse Nationals side in the Eastern Conference finals, establishing their dominance throughout the playoffs. Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston were the Philadelphia Warriors' best players that season.
Rookie Tim Gola also played a pivotal role in helping his team win the championship, averaging 9.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game.
#1 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers - 24.19 years
The Portland Trail Blazers won the 1976-77 NBA championship with an average age of 24.19 years, a record that still stands.
They were playing just their seventh NBA season but took the NBA fraternity by storm by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. They lost the first two games, but rallied to win four on the trot to bring Portland's first and only championship home.
They also reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, with Clyde Drexler leading the team, but the Trail Blazers couldn't triumph on either occasion.
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