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Several outstanding NBA players have competed well into their 40s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_and_youngest_National_Basketball_Association_pla

by marttt 4y ago

Several outstanding NBA players have competed well into their 40s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_and_youngest_National_Basketball_Association_players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_and_youngest_Na... Remarkably, this doesn't appear to be a "career bonus" solely for (the less injury-prone?) point guards or centers. All positions are present, including power forwards like Karl Malone. I'm not in the US -- could one say that current NBA games have a considerably faster pace (more jump-and-shoot) as compared to, say, the early 1990s? This would probably require more physical strength, which makes the 40+ guys even more interesting. I played handball during my teens, and I remember a renowned goalkeeper who performed incredibly at age 45+ (possibly even at national team level or thereabouts; at least as first goalie of our country's number one team). IIRC, he was also a dedicated smoker, always having a pre-game cigarette, LOL -- in all seriousness, this probably contributed somewhat to keeping him exceptionally alert during the game.

fakethenews2022 4y ago
Tom Brady playing at his age and at his level is a combination of things, some unique to him, some to the QB position, some to changes in rules, and some to advances in training and recovery techniques and technology. So many things had to line up exactly for Tom Brady at 45 to occur. He is very rare not only in his age but in his very high level of play at that age. Of the players in the NBA list, only Karl Malone was playing at a high level, and only for a short spurt where he stopped Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals and sent the Lakers to the finals. However, he injured his knee and the Lakers were done for in the finals. The knee injury probably wasn't a freak occurrence but rather a result of a lifetime of wear and tear. He had been so injury free for so long. I think the most interesting of the things lining up for Tom Brady is his drive to win. It maximizes the other things. He seeks out the best training and recovery techniques. He willingly takes less money to get better teammates. If you are a Tom hater, he cheats like deflating balls below regulation so that they are more catcheable.
- marttt 4y ago
  > Of the players in the NBA list, only Karl Malone was playing at a high level Looking at the stats, so was John Stockton. His assists per game did drop over time, but overall stability between 1988-2003 is remarkable IMO. Essentially always 82 games, always in the starting five, always on court around 30 minutes or more. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockton#Regular_season https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockton#Regular_season In the light of this thread, interesting quote from Wikipedia -- I didn't know he was considered a "physical player": "Stockton missed only 22 games in his 19-season career. In his first 13 seasons, he missed only four games (all in the 1989–90 season) until he missed the first 18 games of the 1997–98 season due to an injured MCL in his left knee sustained in the preseason. That was the only major injury in his career, and he never missed another game after returning from that injury. Stockton earned the "old school" tag for his physical play; surveys of athletes and fans alike often judged him among the toughest players in the NBA, usually just behind teammate Karl Malone. Stockton's tenacity also earned him a reputation among some in the league as being a dirty player, as suggested by a poll Sports Illustrated conducted in 1997 where he was voted as the second dirtiest player in the league behind Dennis Rodman."
dnh44 4y ago
The NBA was physically tougher in the 90's compared to now due to rule changes which favour the offensive player. https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-the-nba-is-way-too-soft-now-20160617-column.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-the-nba-is-way-...

by marttt 4y ago

fakethenews2022 4y ago

Tom Brady playing at his age and at his level is a combination of things, some unique to him, some to the QB position, some to changes in rules, and some to advances in training and recovery techniques and technology. So many things had to line up exactly for Tom Brady at 45 to occur. He is very rare not only in his age but in his very high level of play at that age. Of the players in the NBA list, only Karl Malone was playing at a high level, and only for a short spurt where he stopped Tim Duncan in the Western Conference finals and sent the Lakers to the finals. However, he injured his knee and the Lakers were done for in the finals. The knee injury probably wasn't a freak occurrence but rather a result of a lifetime of wear and tear. He had been so injury free for so long. I think the most interesting of the things lining up for Tom Brady is his drive to win. It maximizes the other things. He seeks out the best training and recovery techniques. He willingly takes less money to get better teammates. If you are a Tom hater, he cheats like deflating balls below regulation so that they are more catcheable.

marttt 4y ago
> Of the players in the NBA list, only Karl Malone was playing at a high level Looking at the stats, so was John Stockton. His assists per game did drop over time, but overall stability between 1988-2003 is remarkable IMO. Essentially always 82 games, always in the starting five, always on court around 30 minutes or more. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockton#Regular_season https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockton#Regular_season In the light of this thread, interesting quote from Wikipedia -- I didn't know he was considered a "physical player": "Stockton missed only 22 games in his 19-season career. In his first 13 seasons, he missed only four games (all in the 1989–90 season) until he missed the first 18 games of the 1997–98 season due to an injured MCL in his left knee sustained in the preseason. That was the only major injury in his career, and he never missed another game after returning from that injury. Stockton earned the "old school" tag for his physical play; surveys of athletes and fans alike often judged him among the toughest players in the NBA, usually just behind teammate Karl Malone. Stockton's tenacity also earned him a reputation among some in the league as being a dirty player, as suggested by a poll Sports Illustrated conducted in 1997 where he was voted as the second dirtiest player in the league behind Dennis Rodman."

dnh44 4y ago

The NBA was physically tougher in the 90's compared to now due to rule changes which favour the offensive player. https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-the-nba-is-way-too-soft-now-20160617-column.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-the-nba-is-way-...