Preface
For most NBA players, after the age of 30, due to the decline in physical fitness, their strength will also go downhill, like many stars in the league in the past have only about ten seasons in their careers. However, with the advancement of the times and the development of technology, the career life of players is generally much longer than before, and both role players and stars have benefited in this regard.
The youngest of the six players we introduce next, the youngest of them is 34 years old, and players of this age in the past are basically on the verge of retirement, and many of them can only wave a towel on the bench at this stage. However, these six players are still the main players in their respective teams, and the team can only hope that they can play better if they want to go further, so let's take a look at who they are.
6. Harden (34 years old)
Averages per game: 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game
Harden, who entered the league in 2009, is now 34 years old, and after years and injuries, his current form is no longer as good as it was back then. However, Harden, as a player with a high ball quotient, still plays a very important role in the Clippers, and even his performance determines the ceiling of the Clippers to a certain extent, and if they really want to win the championship, they can only expect Harden to explode in the playoffs.
As the only qualified point guard in the entire team, Harden's ability to tandem offense is something Leonard and George do not have, only if he combs the team's offense in an orderly manner, Leonard and George can not be full of fire from the beginning, and Harden's good play can also help them get into the game faster, and the most important thing is that he can also activate role players.
5. Butler (34 years old)
Averaged 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season
When Butler first entered the league, he was an ordinary defensive engineer in the Bulls, but after he practiced holding the ball, he directly became the core of the Bulls, and whether he joined the Timberwolves or the 76ers, he played a vital role in the team. Since Butler joined the Heat in 2019, he has led the team to the division finals several times, including the finals in 2020 and 2023.
The 34-year-old Butler still has close to 20+5+5 stats in the regular season this season, and the most important thing is that everyone knows that he is saving for the playoffs, and now the Heat are in eighth place in the East with a 43-35 record, and it seems that they do not pose much of a threat to the championship. But Butler and the Heat's record in the playoffs in the past has shown that the regular season doesn't matter at all, and they won't be on full fire until the playoffs, so they still have a chance to play the Black Eight Miracle again this season.
4. Durant (35 years old)
Averages per game this season: 27.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 per game
Compared to other players, it is not easy for Durant to play like this this season, because he has suffered a serious injury such as a ruptured Achilles tendon before, so he can recover to the current level, in addition to his physical fitness, his hard training and rehabilitation are also important. Durant remains one of the league's best scorers this season, averaging 27.4 points per game and ranking fifth in the league.
Although Durant is the oldest of the Suns' Big Three, he has been the most active this season, playing in 71 games so far, and the last time he had such a high attendance was in the 2018-2019 season. This season, Durant can be said to have done his best to help the Suns win, and he has put enough energy into both offensive and defensive ends since the regular season, but unfortunately the Suns are still hovering around the play-offs.
3. Curry (36 years old)
Averages per game this season: 26.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5 assists
When Curry entered the league, some people said that he couldn't cope with NBA-level confrontation at all, but after 15 years, Curry not only adapted to the confrontation in the league, he even changed the way basketball played, and it was because of the rise of him and the Warriors that the league had a small-ball frenzy. As the No. 1 scorer in history, Curry has also maintained a pretty good state, leading the Warriors to win the championship again at the age of 33, and he also won the FMVP.
Although Curry's regular season form has been up and down this season, it is undeniable that he is still one of the most offensive threats in the league, as long as he is on the court, whether with or without the ball, opponents dare not let up the slightest bit in his defense. However, the Warriors' current roster is really poor, and only Curry is averaging more than 20+ points per game on the entire team, so they are now only ranked tenth in the West.
2. Paul (38 years old)
Averages per game this season: 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 steals
Paul is in a much worse state than the other superstars on this list, but he still has the strength to fight, and he will be crucial for the Warriors this season. Although Paul's scoring ability has declined further, his ball intelligence and experience are still there, so he can still lead the team's offense when he is on the court, and the Warriors have relied on the bench led by Paul to win at some points this season.
Paul has also sacrificed a lot to compete for the championship this season, and as an old man in the league, he played on the bench for the first time in his career with the Warriors, and he has no complaints. It would be wise for the Warriors to choose a trade for Poole for Paul, and if it weren't for that deal, the Warriors would have fallen out of the play-in tournament by now.
1. James (39 years old)
Averages per game this season: 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.2 steals
As the oldest player in the league this season, James is now 39 years old, and this is also the 21st season of his career. When Nowitzki and Garnett reached their 21st season, their effect on the court was completely a side effect, and the offensive and defensive ends were visibly inadequate, but as of now, we have not seen any signs of this in James.
This season, James' average data per game is still above 25+7+7, whether it is offensive or defensive, he is quite critical for the Lakers. In some of the more important games, we can still see the appearance of full Zhan, and he has also scored 40+ several times this season. Now that the Lakers are about to usher in the most important stage of the season, it is up to James whether they can make the playoffs, and James will still determine the ceiling of this team in the playoffs.