Basketball has witnessed many players ignoring the age factor and continue playing exciting basketball in their early 40s. Which of those are the most significant stars to attain such a feat? In this article we examine the Five Best Current NBA Players Over 40, reviewing the legends’ careers and their impact on the sport.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Among all the players who have played basketball after turning 40 years of age, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is ranked as the greatest. After he aged 40, the player played 156 games averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as mentioned by Hoopshype. During this time, he managed to achieve two NBA championships and two all-star selections as evidenced by his consistent ability to play on the court. One of Abdul-Jabbar’s defining moves was the skyhook shot which he continued to use throughout his career effectively enough to average 50.9% for field goals.
John Stockton
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John Stockton, who was great in playmaking after his 40 years of age, is another good example. In his last year (2002-03), he scored a total of 11.6 points together with a magnificent 7.7 assists per game and qualified the Utah Jazz into playoffs. The fact that Stockton did not miss a single game while playing at such a high level, really speaks to his hard work as a point guard.
Robert Parish
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Robert Parish is another legend who played swiftly to the mid-40s. In 272 games after this achievement, he scored an average of 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds throughout his career as per Givemesport. He played in the NBA for nearly twenty years and even won an NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1997.
Manu Ginobili
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Manu Ginobili was one of the few athletes who played basketball after 40 years old, and he scored 8.9 points per game in his last year. He has been an important part of the San Antonio Spurs and was quite effective during the pivotal series against the Golden State Warriors in 2018. Ginobili proved to be valuable in helping his team compete with such youthful rivals due to skillful experience.
Dirk Nowitzki
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Dirk Nowitzki, known for his incredible shooting ability, also played effectively after turning 40. Although injuries limited him during his final season, he still managed to average 7.3 points per game as per NBA. Notably, Nowitzki scored 30 points in his last home game, leaving a lasting impression on Mavericks fans and solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats.
Whose performance do you think improved most after the age of 40? These five NBA stars are fine examples of enduring productive careers in professional basketball. On their teams, their contributions have been immense and on the sport, they have been record-breakers.
