Which former superstar players aged the most gracefully?

[I.Malcolm]

So who do you guys think saw their game mature, and age, the most gracefully after hitting 'superstar status'? Guys like Vince Carter come to mind. His game has changed and made him a capable role player well outside of his prime.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Duncan

[Inferno]

Well Kobe stayed at superstar level till the age of 35...aging well or not aging at all?

[D-Rose]

It really is incredible how Vince has aged. In his prime, he was so reliant on athleticism and he was injury prone...few would have seen this coming.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson has been out of the league for like 4 years :(

[MellowYellow]

Nash, Pierce, Jermaine O'neal

[BrainDead]

I don't know, but Rick Fox is still very handsome

[MellowYellow]

Well Kobe stayed at superstar level till the age of 35...aging well or not aging at all?

34

[navy]

Well Kobe stayed at superstar level till the age of 35...aging well or not aging at all?
Pretty much this. :applause:

[TheMarkMadsen]

It really is incredible how Vince has aged. In his prime, he was so reliant on athleticism and he was injury prone...few would have seen this coming.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson has been out of the league for like 4 years :(

He was 5'10 and attacked the rim 40 times per night with the intensity of a bran james every time

Of course he didnt last long, especially when he lost his quickness... It was sadly just over for AI :( :(

[CoastalRyan]

Doc Rivers finished off his career as a solid rotation player.

Not that he was a superstar.

Sam Cassell, Billups are two more than found nice roles at the end of their career.

[Roundball_Rock]

KAJ. He was still top 5 in MVP voting and all-NBA first team as late as his 17th season and was still an all-star in his 18th before becoming a role player for his final two seasons.

[Skyscraper]

Vince Carter at age 36 is really not bad a player at all.

Sure he's no longer prime 25/4/4 with highlights every single night...

but look at this Mavericks years per 36 minute numbers

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartevi01.html

field goal may not be the best, but fewer shots per game and more reliant on outside with ever improved outside shot.

plus he still has the ability to make a poster or two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue7gqEj2A0I

[Warfan]

The Mailman. Won a MVP at what, 35??

[BlazerRed]

Duncan
This.

[Nowitness]

Garnett is still DPOY candidate and main offensive threat in year 19 so...

[QuebecBaller]

Vince Carter at age 36 is really not bad a player at all.

Sure he's no longer prime 25/4/4 with highlights every single night...

but look at this Mavericks years per 36 minute numbers

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cartevi01.html

field goal may not be the best, but fewer shots per game and more reliant on outside with ever improved outside shot.

plus he still has the ability to make a poster or two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue7gqEj2A0I


Carter took the same road as Michael Finley did

[Yankstar]

Mailman :rockon:

[JohnFreeman]

Carter

[KNOW1EDGE]

Duncan, Pierce, Garnett, Vince Carter

[sammichoffate]

Dirk and Duncan come to mind for me, Kobe hasn't aged at all tbh. Vince Carter is still a baws :pimp:

[L.Kizzle]

It really is incredible how Vince has aged. In his prime, he was so reliant on athleticism and he was injury prone...few would have seen this coming.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson has been out of the league for like 4 years :(
VC being injury prone is a myth. Of his 18 seasons one season he played 43. Another 2 he was at 60 and 61 games. Every other season he's playing 73 or more games. 3 times he never missed a game in a season. 3 other seasons he just missed out with 80 and 81 games played.

[ThePhantomCreep]

Karl Malone, for sure. He was still putting up 21/8/5 at 39.

[To4]

Dirk!!!!!!! Need the winking Gif of his..

[rmt]

Garnett is still DPOY candidate and main offensive threat in year 19 so...

It can't be a coincidence after your recent post about Kobe (vs Bird) and selflessness and now this. Did you watch KG this past year? DPOY and main offensive threat in year 19 - lol at your comment (not at KG - he's got a lot of mileage).

[dreamwarrior]

Kobe, MJ, Dikembe, Stockton, Malone

[Anfernee]

I have to give Kareem credit for playing 20 seasons without the benefit of today's medical wonders. The late 90's guys have clearly benefitted from the leaps in technology over the past 20 years.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Kareem is the right answer. Then you got Malone and Duncan.

Dude like Dennis Johnson was never really a superstar but I just like how he went from more of an explosive SG, more "based on" athleticism (great athlete with skills), to more of a PG with a steadier and smarter, calm and collected game (with the C's when he had put on considerable weight and lost a step or two in the athletic department), always a great defender.

[jaybee682]

Im going to say a player nobody else mentioned Clyde Drexler.

[Angel Face]

If we include retired players...

Jordan, dude's dropping 40 at age 40.
Stockton
Kareem...

Basically guys who have high bball IQ.

[LAZERUSS]

Chamberlain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAyN1LZNXfw

Still in demand at age 50...

[duskovujosevic]

Duncan, Stockton, Kareem, Hakeem are first on my mind.

[joeysms55]

It really is incredible how Vince has aged. In his prime, he was so reliant on athleticism and he was injury prone...few would have seen this coming.

Meanwhile, Allen Iverson has been out of the league for like 4 years :(


Yeah but he never had the hits that Iverson had

[wally_world]

People have short term memory and forget that VC was terrible for about 2-3 years transitioning from a 'star' to a role player. I absolutely hated him on Phoenix.

Duncan undoubtedly aged the best among current players. You can say Nash, but I think it was a case of having a later prime rather than ageing well. Ray Allen is another good candidate.

[kkb_12]

Duncan
Malone
Dirk
Nash (until last season)

and of course - the guy who will maintain the same level of contribution to his team well into his 50's - the one and only Kendrick Perkins

[ralph_i_el]

Dirk (so gracefully that his impact is still superstar level)
Duncan
VC
Pau Gasol (although hes been in shitty situations for a few years)
PP/KG have still been nice

[ZMonkey11]

To a certain extent, Grant Hill. Yes, was a shell of his superstar days, but persevered through his injuries to be effective this league for a long time. Could prob play a few key minute today, given he stays in shape.

[ILLsmak]

Kareem is the right answer. Then you got Malone and Duncan.

Dude like Dennis Johnson was never really a superstar but I just like how he went from more of an explosive SG, more "based on" athleticism (great athlete with skills), to more of a PG with a steadier and smarter, calm and collected game (with the C's when he had put on considerable weight and lost a step or two in the athletic department), always a great defender.


What about Stockton, too?

-Smak