In the NBA, when a team decides to surround itself with veterans, it is usually a clear sign that they are “all in” to win a title. These franchises put all their cards on the table, looking to cross the finish line with everything they have. However, experience does not always guarantee success, as a historical analysis of the oldest rosters in the league shows.
Of the 25 oldest rosters in NBA history, only five have managed to win the championship. This analysis was done by calculating the weighted average age of each team as of February 1 of the season in question, considering both the age of the players and their playing time. Thus, a 22-year-old player who averaged 35 minutes per game had a greater impact on the final result than one who played only 10 minutes.
Older Templates and Their Performance
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Utah Jazz 2000-01
- Weighted average age: 32.60 years
- Regular season record: 53-29
- Playoff performance: Eliminated in the first round by the Mavericks
- Key players: Karl Malone (37), John Stockton (38), Bryon Russell (30), Donyell Marshall (27), John Starks (35)
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Houston Rockets 1997-98
- Weighted average age: 32.46 years
- Regular season record: 41-41
- Playoff performance: Eliminated in the first round by the Jazz
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Chicago Bulls 1997-98
- Weighted average age: 32.14 years
- Regular season record: 62-20
- Playoff performance: They won the title
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San Antonio Spurs 2007-08
- Weighted average age: 32.10 years
- Regular season record: 56-26
- Playoff performance: Eliminated in the Conference Finals by the Lakers
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Utah Jazz 1999-00
- Weighted average age: 32.00 years
- Regular season record: 55-27
- Playoff performance: Eliminated in the second round by the Trail Blazers
The Relationship Between Age and Success
While it’s clear that experience can be a crucial factor in the fight for a championship, it is also a double-edged sword. Teams like the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls and the 2006-07 San Antonio Spurs proved that an aging roster can, indeed, achieve the ultimate goal: an NBA championship. However, other teams, such as the Utah Jazz 2000-01 and the Houston Rockets de 1997-98Despite having experienced players, they failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs.
