NBA Power Rankings: The List of the League's 10 Oldest Teams May Surprise You
Last week, Jerry West, former Los Angeles Laker player and GM, said the Lakers are "getting long in the tooth" (10 players are 30 or older) and suggested that theirย team's age contributes toย a lack of defensive consistency.
The Lakers aren't the oldest team in the league. Other teams that are possible playoff contenders also might be impacted by theย "experience"ย of their players.
Yesterday, I posted an article, NBA Power Rankings: Top 10 Players 25 Years Old and Younger.
Today,ย we go in the other direction.
Here's aย look at the Top Ten oldest teams in the NBA, and letsย assess their age challenges:
10. Atlanta Hawks
1 of 10
Atlanta Hawks: 29-16, second in Southeast
Average years in the league: 5.86
Average age: 27.4
Players 30 or over: 6 (Mike Bibby, Jason Collins, Jamal Crawford, Maurice Evans, Etan Thomas and Damien Wilkins)
Crawford and Bibby are the most important players in the above list. Having a two of your main backcourt players above 30 is a double-edged sword. Both players still have plenty in the tank.
Age Impact: Minimal
9. Utah Jazz
2 of 10
The Utah Jazz: 27-17, second in Northwest
Average years in the league: 5.46
Average age: 27.5
Players 30 or over: 4 (Raja Bell, Francisco Elson, Mehmet Okur and Earl Watson)
Okur has just resumed play in the last 10 games after suffering a torn Achilles at the end of last season. He is averaging 13 minutes per game.
Bell still has plenty of legs left, as he backs up Deron Williams.
Age Impact: Moderate
8. Chicago Bulls
3 of 10
The Chicago Bulls: 31-14, first in Central
Average years in the league: 5.08
Average age: 27.57
Players 30 or over: 3 (Keith Bogans, Brian Scalabrine and Kurt Thomas)
Thomas (38) plays back-up minutes (22 mpg)ย in the post. He's still very productive, grabbing six boards per game with limited playing time.
Age Impact: Minimal
7. San Antonio Spurs
4 of 10
The San Antonio Spurs: 37-7, first in Southwest
Average years in the league: 5.14
Average age: 27.93
Players 30 or over: 5 (Matt Bonner, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess)
Head coach Gregg Popovich is a master at managing the regular season. He monitors minutes played and limitsย how muchย his main players are in the game, regardless of their age.
Duncan is currently playing just under 30 minutes a night. Ginobli and Jefferson are playingย a few more minutes than Duncan. The biggest possible concern is how many of the Spurs mainย players are on this list.
Age Impact: Moderate
6. Orlando Magic
5 of 10
The Orlando Magic: 29-16, 2nd in Southeast
Average years in the league: 6.64
Average age: 28.17
Players 30 or over:ย 5 (Malik Allen,ย Jason Richardson,ย Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Williams)
Richardson still has a lot of bounce, andย Turkoglu has never been a speed orย hops guy. So these two key players' games are not impacted virtually at all.ย ย
Age Impact: Minimal
5. Boston Celtics
6 of 10
Boston Celtics: 33-10, first in Atlantic
Average years in the league: 7.27
Average age: 28.3
Players 30 or over:ย 6 (Ray Allen, Marquis Daniels, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce)
Doc Rivers needs to take lessons from Coach Pop in San Antonio in terms of "minutes management." Limitingย the Celtics'ย starters time is crucial to them being ready to face the playoff grind come April. Both O'Neals have settled in as role players.
Age Impact: Above Average
4. Dallas Mavericks
7 of 10
The Dallas Mavericks: 28-15, second in Southwest
Average years in the league: 7.27
Average age: 28.87
Players 30 or over:ย 8 (Caron Butler, Brian Cardinal, Brendan Haywood, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion,ย Dirk Nowitzki, Pejaย Stojakovic and Jason Terry)
The Mavericks desperately need a healthy Nowitzki if they are going to do anything the rest of the season. He has not played like himself since returning from injury.
Tonight, the Mavs executed the trade for Peja.ย His role on the team will be to add some shooting on the perimeter.ย
Age Impact: Above Average
3. Denver Nuggets
8 of 10
Denver Nuggets: 25-18, third in Northwest
Average years in the league: 6.71
Average age: 28.88
Players 30 or over:ย 6 (Chris Andersen, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Melvin Ely, Al Harrington and Kenyon Martin)
Martin's minutes have had to be limited because of injury. Billups' production is down slightly on the season, but seems to be playing well as of late.
Age Impact: Moderate
2. Los Angeles Lakers
9 of 10
Los Angeles Lakers: 32-13, first in Pacific
Average years in the league:ย 7.86ย
Average age: 29.14
Players 30 or over: 10ย (Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Steve Blake,ย Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith and Luke Walton)
Surprised that any NBA roster would have 10 players 30 years and older. The Lakers depth of talentย allows for this to be less significant, but stillย is something to consider.
Kobe's game is as good as ever. As long as that is the case, that alone covers a multitude of wins.
Age Impact: Moderate
1. Miami Heat
10 of 10
Miami Heat: 31-13, 1st in Southeast
Average years in the league: 8.07
Average age: 30.19
Players 30 or over:ย 9 (Carlos Arroyo, Erick Dampier, Udonis Haslem, Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, James Jones, Jamaal Magloire, Mike Miller)
Are you as shocked as I am...The Miami Heat are the oldest team in the NBA? Wow!
After they acquired James and Bosh this summer, the Heat filled in their roster with most of these veteran players. Miller, Haslem, Jones, Z,ย and House all give quality minutes.
In spite of their standing as the leagues "oldsters," the Heat have virtually nothing to worry about in terms of age challenges.
Age Impact: Minimal
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