The Phoenix Suns opened the season by becoming the first team in NBA history to have four teenagers play in the same game.
As the season has progressed, the team has continued to regress -- in age, if nothing else.
On Thursday night, the five men who comprised the Suns' starting lineup had an average age of 21 years and 14 days, setting a new NBA record for youth by over four months.
The previous youngest starting five was fielded by the Los Angeles Clippers -- a lineup that included current Suns guard Eric Bledsoe -- in 2010. That group had an average age of 21 years, 143 days.
In fact, the Suns' starting five Thursday -- Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis, Derrick Jones, Jr. and Alex Len -- is younger than the average age of 15 of the 16 NCAA teams that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, including the Arizona Wildcats.
The Suns' starting 5 was the youngest in NBA history tonight — younger than all but ONE of the Sweet 16 teams playing.
(via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/NWp7JUEyZu— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 24, 2017
The historic moment was a result of several veteran players being shut down for the season due to injury or otherwise. But the Suns' youth and inexperience was on full display Thursday, as they were beaten by the NBA's worst team, the Brooklyn Nets, by 28 points. The loss dropped the Suns to 22-50 on the season.
Via @EliasSports, tonight's @Suns starting lineup (average age of 21 years, 14 days) is the youngest starting five in NBA history #WeArePHX pic.twitter.com/YKH1KsUt8g
— Phoenix Suns Stats (@SunsBballComm) March 24, 2017
