In 2009-10 and 2014-15, 10 teams had a minutes weighted average age under 26. In 18-19, 12. This season, 17.
Nobody in modern times (or maybe ever) has won a title that young. Of course most of these were nowhere close for that to be a realistic objective. Nuggets and Heat thought it was. Was it? Should they have been older? Maybe not, if best chances were considered to be the next few years. But the future is not always reliable. The now is pretty precious.
Average age leaguewide down 0.6 years in just last 4 seasons.
Is the number of players getting 3rd and / or 4th contracts declining? Are their minutes declining? Both? Which is a bigger factor? What was happening with their pay recently and what will happen in future?
Will average age dip to 25 or below? If draft allows high schoolers it may well.
May change to some degree team strategic plans, emphasis among the different levels of max contracts, rotation length, usage distribution, coaching style or preferred coaching style, playoff seeding dynamics, playmaking, defenses, frequency of upsets etc. How much? We'll see.
If Lakers win, it is oldest team in league winning. Will GMs react to that? They were going away from it despite the recent and general history of old champs, so maybe not. Average of last 4 titlewinners was 5th oldest in league.
Going young may make sense if you think you have more chance in intermediate future than now... but maybe not if a lot of teams do the same and more than a few get it right.
Typically 4-7 teams over .650 in a season. 5 this time. I'd guess the number is more likely to go up next season or two than go down.
Some teams may be planning to peak 3 plus years from now. If you are not a top 8-10 team now and a title is the goal, that is probably the smart target. But it is filled with the most uncertainty.
Half of the best 20 players probably turns over within 3 years. Exactly who steps up into it, not clear.
Average team age trend
Re: Average team age trend
'77 Blazers' avg age was 24.5 -- youngest in the league.
They beat the (6th youngest) Sixers, avg age 25.6, in the Finals.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... 76ers.html
They beat the (6th youngest) Sixers, avg age 25.6, in the Finals.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/pl ... 76ers.html
Re: Average team age trend
Thanks.
I think I checked from 1980 on years ago. That is my general range of interest.
I think I checked from 1980 on years ago. That is my general range of interest.
Re: Average team age trend
Celtics, Pacers, Nuggets... all a bit year by historical standards. Will they adjust to convention or stay young?
Will Spurs, Rockets or Blazers get meaningfully younger? Strongest case for Spurs to do so. Blazers probably won't but maybe should. Doubt Rockets do but maybe if they decide they arent good enough.
Will Spurs, Rockets or Blazers get meaningfully younger? Strongest case for Spurs to do so. Blazers probably won't but maybe should. Doubt Rockets do but maybe if they decide they arent good enough.
Re: Average team age trend
Oldest team in league wins title.
Does that in any way chip away against posture of the young, most likely too young teams? Probably not in most or all cases. The variance between thinking and title winning has gone on for a long time generally and for specific teams.
Oldest average age for titlest since 2012-13. LeBron knows what works, for him (and generally). Will others don't know or rebel, it may make it easier for him.
Does that in any way chip away against posture of the young, most likely too young teams? Probably not in most or all cases. The variance between thinking and title winning has gone on for a long time generally and for specific teams.
Oldest average age for titlest since 2012-13. LeBron knows what works, for him (and generally). Will others don't know or rebel, it may make it easier for him.