Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Woelfel’s Press Box ran a story that showed the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angles Clippers tied for the most players on their roster with 10 or more years of experience in the league. Both teams had six such players on their Opening Day roster.
Bucks have six players on roster with 10+ years in NBA
The six on the Bucks roster were: Brook Lopez (14 years in the league), George Hill (14 years), Serge Ibaka (13 years), Wesley Matthews (13 years), Jrue Holiday (13 years), and Khris Middleton (10 years). In addition, it was pointed out that Giannis Antetokounmpo was just starting his 10th season in the league.
Experience can be a double-edged sword in sports. When teams play well, that experience is celebrated. When teams start to struggle, that experience is questioned, and fans/pundits start to ask if the “experienced” team is just getting old.
Amid a four-game losing streak and six losses in their last nine games, some Bucks’ faithful have taken to social media asking if the team’s experience is no longer an asset. Injuries, loses to younger, quicker teams, and lackadaisical play have fueled the comments.
Through games of December 29, the Bucks rank fourth in the league with most minutes played by players in their 30’s. Eight different Bucks players aged 30+ have logged 3,353 total minutes played this season. The eight: Lopez (1,015), Holiday (860), Hill (603), Matthews (377), Ibaka (171), Middleton (170), Joe Ingles (86) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (71)
Bucks rank fourth in league in minutes played by 30-something players
Here are the Top 5 teams in the NBA so far this year with most minutes played by players age 30+.
5,063-Los Angeles Clippers
3,887-Brooklyn Nets
3,556-Dallas Mavericks
3,353-Milwaukee Bucks
3,226-Utah Jazz
Here is the Top 5 teams in the NBA so far this year with fewest minutes played by players age 30+.
0-Memphis Grizzlies
339-Oklahoma City Thunder
480-New York Knicks
697-Toronto Raptors
736-Orlando Magic
Good news for older, experienced teams this year
There is good news: The Top 5 teams for most minutes by players age 30+ have a combined record of 105-74 (.587). The combined record for those five teams with the fewest minutes by players age 30+ is 82-94 (.466). Advantage experience and age.
There is still a little over three months to go in the 2022-23 season so we have time to see if age and experience will be a positive factor or if the long season will drain any of these veteran-laden teams.
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