The 2021-22 season is about to begin and today we stop at a detail that we often overlook: the age of the squads. Although the NBA is a circular competition in which all organizations have their chance to be champion, this does not prevent that when some teams are at their best, others are rebuilding. This context is fully related to the age of the players in each franchise, since those who start from scratch usually opt for young players to develop.
Average age NBA squads
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 22.9 years
- Memphis Grizzlies: 23.7 years
- Detroit Pistons: 24.1 years
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 24.1 years
- Charlotte Hornets: 24.4 years
- Chicago Bulls: 24.7 years
- New Orleans: 24.7 years
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 24.8 years
- Houston Rockets: 24.8 years
- Orlando Magic: 24.8 years
- San Antonio Spurs: 25 years
- Sacramento Kings: 25.1 years
- Toronto Raptors: 25.1 years
- Philaldelphia 76ers: 25.2 years
- Washington Wizards: 25.2 years
- Boston Celtics: 25.2 years
- Denver Nuggets: 25.7 years
- New York Knicks: 25,9 años
- Portland Trail Blazers: 26.1 years
- Atlanta Hawks: 26.2 years
- Indiana Pacers: 26.2 years
- Los Angeles Clippers: 26.7 years
- Dallas Mavericks: 26.9 years
- Phoenix Suns: 27.1 years
- Golden State Warriors: 27.1 years
- Milwaukee Bucks: 27,6 años
- Utah Jazz: 27.9 years
- Miami Heat: 28.9 years
- Brooklyn Nets: 28,9 años
- Los Angeles Lakers: 30.6 years
Lakers, among the oldest in history
Much has been said about this during this preseason, and it is a reality. The Lakers are by far the oldest team in the NBA; so much so that they take almost two years out of the following: Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets. That they have reached 30.6 years on average is not a surprise. Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo… They have signed a large group of veterans, joined by their main star, LeBron James, who is currently 36 years old.
Although the figure reached by these Lakers is surprising, the truth is that it is not something so unique in the League, since there have been quite a few teams with a higher average age than them. To know who holds the record, you have to go to the end of the 90s, since it is the Houston Rockets from 1997-98 and the Utah Jazz from 2000-01 who are at the top of the podium with an average of 32 years, according to The Ringer. In those teams we found on the one hand Hakeem Olajuwon (35), Clyde Drexler (35) and Charles Barkley (34); and on the other to Karl Malone (37), John Stockton (38) and John Starks (35).
Continuing with the statistics presented by the aforementioned medium, we have that up to 43 teams have moved in history between 30 and 30.9 years (here are the Angelenos) and that only eight have exceeded 31 on average.
Memphis, fighting since youth
Memphis is the big anomaly on the list. Of the 13 teams with the lowest average age on the list, only the Grizzlies were present in the last playoffs, something that gains weight when seeing that they are the second youngest team with 23.7 years on average. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke… Those from Tennessee long ago bet on a young and talented batch that is not only growing, but has performed above expectations.
The opposite case, that of a ‘veteran’ team without playoffs, is found in the Golden State Warriors. Those of San Francisco disputed the play-in but they could not with Lakers nor Grizzlies. They are currently the sixth oldest team, and that is almost synonymous with postseason and success.
Oklahoma, leaving class
That’s how it is. Sam Presti got down to business rebuilding a long time ago and such performance is a true reflection of the Thunder being the youngest team in the NBA. The accumulation of draft rounds and the desire to develop players has led them to such a situation, in which they have up to five rookies and three second-year players in the roster. We do not know if the plan will pay off in the long term, but what is clear is that they have not hesitated to carry it out. The youngest team podium is completed by the aforementioned Grizzlies along with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, both tied at 24.1 years.
Spotrac data.
(Photograph by Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
