Will any of the HS generation players out-last Jabbar/Mutumbo/Parish/Willis?

[CavaliersFTW]

Those are the guys with seasons played/age-records. And the HS-to-pro gen players are the guys that were predicted to have the most logical chances of shattering "seasons played" records and putting them way out of sight due to the rules that allowed them to be drafted so young.

Kobe's about to retire after his 20th season and 20 seasons is among the very top no doubt. But he's only 37 years old and he's done so he's not going to chase the record. Of course I'm aware of his mileage and his position. But I do find it interesting that Kobe didn't outlast guys in age like Elgin Baylor or John Havlicek. It seems like regardless of mileage and medical technology there's still a real world age limit on playing. The steady and stable production of bigs tend to be the ones that play into their 40's not the wings.

That leaves Garnett, and LeBron to potentially attempt to play into their 40's and shatter the "seasons played" records by playing up to the ages of guys like Jabbar or Mutumbo. But Garnett seems like he might not make it that far. Do you guys think LeBron will?

Or do you guys think one of the 1 year-to-pro generation of players will eventually break the seasons played record?

[90sgoat]

Duncan can go 5 more years eventually off the bench barring big injuries. Big men only, guards rely on speed. Duncan might play 2-3 seasons more now that Pop extended.

[fpliii]

Well what's the seasons played record? Willis didn't play in 89 (knee) or 06 (retired). This is KG's 21st season, which would tie Parish and Willis.

I think this is it for him though, this is his age 39 season, and he'll turn 40 in May (though I don't think Minny will make the playoffs).

There have been 25 player seasons of 40+:

http://bkref.com/tiny/H3Mlc

I think Timmy will add to that list next year (this is his 19th year, so 16-17 would be his age 40 season, and his 20th year in the league).

[WayOfWade]

I don't think LeBron is going to play into his 40's. He potentially could if he is still ring hungry (due to lack of chips at this point and on), but I imagine he'll want to go out being one of the best. As for who could challenge those guys, I feel like Garnett will go for one more season, just seems like doesn't give a crap

[GIF REACTION]

Game's tougher on players today

[ProfessorMurder]

You either need to go after seasons played OR age. Nobody is coming in at 19 and then going to play until 42 or anything.

An 3-4 year college player playing until they're over 40 is more reasonable.



KG and Andre Miller are both turning 40 this year.

Dre could hang on a couple more years as a backup, but this is only year 16 for him.

KG is about to move into 3rd all time in minutes after next game, and it's his 21st season. I don't know if anyone is beating that combo. I could see him playing one more year and beating Kevin Willis's/Parish's seasons played record, unless he goes immediately into management/ownership next year.

[CavaliersFTW]

Game's tougher on players today
How do you think Elgin Baylor shattered his knee cap and tore his achilles, sneezing? How did Nate Archbald?

Extreme wear and tear and age have ALWAYS been part of the game. **** out of here with nonsense like it was any less rough on your body in the past. The rules today have even been made to shy away from contact. Players played 110-120 game seasons in chuck taylors and they sat on a charter bus smoking cigarettes or eating mcdonalds to prep for the next game not floating in a cryochamber popping PEDs.

[BigNBAfan]

Game's tougher on players today

No it's not... way less physical. Look at just the screens in the early 90s. You had enforcers in the NBA... where are they now?

[TonyMontana]

No, not a chance.

Player durability is actually going to decrease, not increase.

Because the players today are more emphasized on having more muscle, being faster, stronger, etc. The wear and tear when you have more force exerted through being stronger and the stress it puts on your body means it will break down faster.

two examples
The guy lugging around 300 pounds of body mass(think any of the recent centers today..Shaq, Oden, Yao all broke down. Even Dwight fell off a cliff after ORL) is going to break down before the guy lugging around 230(Kareem, even Duncan is incredibly slim which is why he is lasting).

The guy exerting tons of force jumping 40+ inches off the ground in traffic will not last as long as the guy who barely jumps. Russell Westbrook is going to fall off an absolute cluff when his athletisicm diminishes, probably around age 30, maybe even earlier... something similar that happened to Iverson and Steve Francis. Steve Nash on the other hand is a guy who lasted way longer.

[TonyMontana]

It would have to be a bigman too to break these records, as there is less competition to be a bigman in the NBA.

the main prerequisite is something few people even have a chance of obtaining: Height, and wingspan. As long as your 7 feet tall, and not a total gimp you will always have a position in the league.

more competition to be a point guard in the league as the player pool is WAY bigger. much harder to hang on in the league.

[dhsilv]

Those are the guys with seasons played/age-records. And the HS-to-pro gen players are the guys that were predicted to have the most logical chances of shattering "seasons played" records and putting them way out of sight due to the rules that allowed them to be drafted so young.

Kobe's about to retire after his 20th season and 20 seasons is among the very top no doubt. But he's only 37 years old and he's done so he's not going to chase the record. Of course I'm aware of his mileage and his position. But I do find it interesting that Kobe didn't outlast guys in age like Elgin Baylor or John Havlicek. It seems like regardless of mileage and medical technology there's still a real world age limit on playing. The steady and stable production of bigs tend to be the ones that play into their 40's not the wings.

That leaves Garnett, and LeBron to potentially attempt to play into their 40's and shatter the "seasons played" records by playing up to the ages of guys like Jabbar or Mutumbo. But Garnett seems like he might not make it that far. Do you guys think LeBron will?

Or do you guys think one of the 1 year-to-pro generation of players will eventually break the seasons played record?

Kobe does have more games and minutes over hondo, but again he ended due to a major injury.

A huge difference in guards vs bigs. Also worth talking about but the game is way harder to play today due to defensive rules. Way more running for non bigs. That's going to make the minute numbers harder.

[dhsilv]

FYI the larger player sample size, bigger pool to draw from, and higher salaries relative to others, all will lead to us having some freaks. We'll see how it goes.

[CavaliersFTW]

Kobe does have more games and minutes over hondo, but again he ended due to a major injury.

A huge difference in guards vs bigs. Also worth talking about but the game is way harder to play today due to defensive rules. Way more running for non bigs. That's going to make the minute numbers harder.
You can't touch offensive players on the perimeter no though.

Doubt the game is more physically difficult now than before. Just played in a more choreographed half-court style.

It's no more running than you'd see in a more transition style game of eras past.

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

Those are the guys with seasons played/age-records. And the HS-to-pro gen players are the guys that were predicted to have the most logical chances of shattering "seasons played" records and putting them way out of sight due to the rules that allowed them to be drafted so young.

Kobe's about to retire after his 20th season and 20 seasons is among the very top no doubt. But he's only 37 years old and he's done so he's not going to chase the record. Of course I'm aware of his mileage and his position. But I do find it interesting that Kobe didn't outlast guys in age like Elgin Baylor or John Havlicek. It seems like regardless of mileage and medical technology there's still a real world age limit on playing. The steady and stable production of bigs tend to be the ones that play into their 40's not the wings.

That leaves Garnett, and LeBron to potentially attempt to play into their 40's and shatter the "seasons played" records by playing up to the ages of guys like Jabbar or Mutumbo. But Garnett seems like he might not make it that far. Do you guys think LeBron will?

Or do you guys think one of the 1 year-to-pro generation of players will eventually break the seasons played record?

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww92/TommyRoanoke/TayDidNotRead.gif

[dhsilv]

You can't touch offensive players on the perimeter no though.

Doubt the game is more physically difficult now than before. Just played in a more choreographed half-court style.

It's no more running than you'd see in a more transition style game of eras past.

Touching slowed the game down. Today the defenses are running non stop with the zone's allowed. It's vastly more demanding on things like knees that just don't last....

[CavaliersFTW]

Touching slowed the game down. Today the defenses are running non stop with the zone's allowed. It's vastly more demanding on things like knees that just don't last....
I get it but if touching slowed the half court game down wouldn't it rough up the transition game? Aren't there also periods of the past when transition game was a higher emphasis?

And isn't pushing and shoving a wear and tear in and of itself?

That's why I said it just seems to be different. And Kobe played in 'both' of these eras anyways.

[GIF REACTION]

Touching slowed the game down. Today the defenses are running non stop with the zone's allowed. It's vastly more demanding on things like knees that just don't last....
^^

There is a reason why minutes restriction is a big deal now to which it never was before more or less

There is a reason why guys are getting injured more than ever (It seems?)

We always look back on the past with rose tinted glasses

Logic will give you the answer

[GIF REACTION]

The worst and most debilitating injuries are usually non contact

Take a guy like Kobe

Achilles tear

You put him back into a league that prioritizes the best athletes more than ever, and you simply cannot hang anymore

[dhsilv]

I get it but if touching slowed the half court game down wouldn't it rough up the transition game? Aren't there also periods of the past when transition game was a higher emphasis?

And isn't pushing and shoving a wear and tear in and of itself?

That's why I said it just seems to be different. And Kobe played in 'both' of these eras anyways.

Transition is vertical speed. Defense is lateral speed. Lateral where you bend joints the wrong way more so than vertical. The body was made to go forward and backwards not left and right.

[CavaliersFTW]

^^

There is a reason why minutes restriction is a big deal now to which it never was before more or less

There is a reason why guys are getting injured more than ever (It seems?)

We always look back on the past with rose tinted glasses

Logic will give you the answer
Let's be real you don't look back at anything, with any kind of glasses.

[sd3035]

today's athletes could play 30 seasons during the rec league era of the past

[GIF REACTION]

Don't get salty cavs


I did some rough-and-ready research and found that teams whose top players play a ton of minutes don’t win NBA titles, not anymore. They used to, but not in recent years. The best theory I heard to explain that came from David Thorpe, who laid the blame on that hustling, switching team defense. Once upon a time, lots of teams preferred an isolation offense, which meant one player dribbling alone against one defender, while as many as eight guys caught breathers. On many NBA plays these days, nobody stands around. It’s common to see 10 guys flying all over the court. This is not your daddy’s NBA. It’s great for fans and team play, but it’s much tougher for the players: a minute of play, the theory goes, is now much more work than it used to be, and one result is that more rest is required.