A low watt ceramic metal halide lamp has a body with a discharge chamber disposed therein. First and second hollow legs extend from the discharge chamber and received first and second electrode assemblies, respectively, therethrough with first ends of the electrode assemblies disposed in spaced relation in the discharge chamber. Use of thin legs limits heat flux from the discharge chamber. Preferably, thin legs are defined by a load dissipation factor of the ceramic part being less than 0.065 mm2/watt. In addition, thermal conductance along the leg is controlled via a load dissipation factor of the molybdenum mandrel portion of the electrode assembly being maintained less than 0.0008 mm2/watt.