Father Time Juwan Howard Has Found His Youth

With the fifth pick in the NBA draft...

The Washington Bullets select Juwan Howard out of the University Of Michigan.

That was in 1994, Sixteen years ago.

Sixteen years, 15,739 points, 35,012 minutes played, 1,081 games played, 3 president changes, 40 international wars (documented), and 8 team changes later; Juwan is still standing, he's still fighting and he's still competing.

In the summer of 2009, The Portland Trail Blazers signed the 37 year old veteran as an insurance piece for LaMarcus Aldridge. He was supposed to be that wiley veteran that could help the young guys in practice and on the bench.

"...I feel I can help this team on the court with my veteran (ability) and experience. I've played in over 1000 games. I've played in a lot of playoff games. That being said, I've been around, I know how to play the game, I still have a lot left in the tank. I feel I can help this team in so many ways..."

Is it just me or did he predict the future?

Old man Rivers has been nothing short of amazing

9.4 points per, 7 rebounds in 32 minutes since he started seeing regular court time.

That stat line is far from breathtaking.

He doesn't play with flash or "fur reals"

He's not a fantasy big shot.

But for the Portland Trail Blazers he has been the Ultimate Insurance Player.

Before the season, The youthful roster had been spoiled with potential. With players like Jerryd Bayless, Nic Batum, Travis Outlaw and a starting lineup consisting of three possible All-Stars in Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Brandon Roy. The Portland Trail Blazers were poised to compete with the Los Angeles Lakers as the best team in the West.

And then the injury bug riddled the Portland Trail Blazers Roster. It all started October 26, a day before the teams season opener. Starter Nic Batum was set to have shoulder Surgery on a torn Labrum muscle in his shoulder, out indefinitely. 

It all ballooned from there...

Travis outlaw suffered a broken foot, 12 days later Oden fractured his patella; moving Howard closer to real NBA minutes.

Then, seven days after the Greg Oden Injury, Joel Pryzbilla, the Blazers backup to Oden, Suffered a torn Patellar tendon. Leaving Howard as the only other big man available.

Shortly after, Juwan began to experience serious minutes.

His minutes average sky-rocketed from just over five minutes a contest on the first month of the season to 32 minutes a game since then.

With just under half of the Roster Missing, the Blazers have stayed on track. And Juwan Howard has been as big of a part of it as anyone. Including Brandon Roy.

The 16 year vet is playing just as good as he was when he was 29 years of age.

Shall we call him the ageless man?

Nah, Lets just call him Mr. Insurance.