Another season of the National Basketball Association is in full swing. The league is constantly updated – young stars come through the draft, and yesterday’s newcomers begin to show themselves more actively. However, there is still room for veterans in the NBA. In addition, some of them are included in various rankings of the best players both at their position and in the league in general. Others do not demonstrate the same game results as they used to, but have a significant influence in the locker room as a mentor.
Now we will present information about the ten most experienced players who started the new season.
10. Mike Conley, aged 36
Conley started the new season as an x-factor for Minnesota. Mike is not the best player of the team, but he is the one who represents the nucleus that should bond and connect everyone on the team. The ambitious Edwards and two high-class big men in Gobert and Towns need a regular and steady supply of the ball. Conley does this very well. Therefore, the team management should hope that athlete’s age will not be a challenge, and no injuries will be received.
9. Joe Ingles, 36
This is a vivid example of the mentorship role that we mentioned at the beginning of the article. Ingles can sometimes still be effective on the court, but his main role in Orlando is to pass on experience and guide the youth. The Australian even visually looks more like a coach than an active player.
8. Wesley Matthews, 37
Eight years ago, Matthews tore his Achilles tendon. Many players quickly give up after such an injury and are forced to end their careers prematurely. However, this was not case with Wesley. He started the new season in Atlanta. Maybe a little experience and advice will help Trae Young?
7. Jeff Green, 37
Last season finally brought Green a championship. Moreover, he played quite an important role in Denver and regularly helped the team, coming off the substitutes’ bench. In the summer, the basketball player signed a two-year contract with the Rockets for $16 million. Having earned such money, Jeff will be able to retire without any worries.
6. Al Horford, 37
Horford, unlike Green, is still waiting for his championship ring. He has come pretty close to a title with the Celtics over the past few seasons (even playing in the Grand Finals), but he is not quite there yet. He is still very important to Boston right now, so the coaching staff will count on Al at the end of the season and the playoffs. In the regular season, Horford plays limited minutes and comes off the substitutes’ bench.
5. Garret Temple, 37
Garret Temple is probably one of the least famous basketball players on our list. If Pin up az had to bet on which of our top 10 would leave the league the fastest, Temple would be the obvious choice. He neither demonstrates anything important on the court, nor has valuable experience.
4. Kyle Lowry, 37
Laurie’s recent seasons are a rollercoaster. He can lose many games in a row and fall out not only from the starting, but also from the main rotation, and then make a sharp comeback and be a key player in important playoff games. Kyle’s current contract expires this season. What waits for him next is either a well-deserved retirement or another campaign for the title as a veteran on a minimum contract.
3. Chris Paul, 38
The legendary player still dreams of winning a title at the end of his career. He even agreed to betray his ambitions: for the first time in 19 years, Paul appeared in an NBA match outside the starting line-up. Chris plays the role of Golden State bench leader just fine. If he manages to stay healthy, Paul will definitely be an important player in the playoffs, especially when Curry (who is also 35, by the way) will rest.
2. P. J. Tucker, 38
Tucker is a great, dedicated athlete who is a coveted player on very team that competes for championship. He goes out of his way during the game. Also, he can play from almost every position and defends well. On top of that, he can make a three-pointer from the basketball court corner. Only he knows how long he will be able to carry on. Anyways, even if he finished his career today, Tucker could be proud of himself. He made his way from the Ukrainian and Israeli championships to the NBA championship.
1. LeBron James, 38
LeBron is a man who laughs in the face of age. He turns 39 in less than two months. He is the leader of the team and is definitely among the top 15 players in the league. James does not accept any limitations and is ready to play as long as it takes to win. The only thing is that his current Lakers do not look like a team that is at least one of the contenders for the title, so there will be a lot of work to do. Everyone knows LeBron’s dream is to play in the NBA with his son.
