When teams load up on veterans, it’s typically because they are all in to win a title. These teams essentially put all their cards on the table looking to cross the finish line with everything they’ve got.
We have analyzed all NBA teams throughout history to identify the oldest rosters ever. Among the 25 oldest rosters, five did manage to win a championship.
For this exercise, we calculated the weighted average age of each squad. We considered players’ ages as of February 1 (approximately mid-season) and factored in their playing time. (For example, a 22-year-old player averaging 35 minutes per game would have a greater impact on the final result than one playing only 10 minutes).
Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport
Weighted average age: 32.60 years old
Regular season record: 53-29
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Mavericks
Most used players: Karl Malone (37), Bryon Russell (30), John Stockton (38), Donyell Marshall (27), John Starks (35)
ANDREW CUTRARO/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 32.46 years old
Regular season record: 41-41
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Jazz
Anne Ryan-USA TODAY
Weighted average age: 32.14 years old
Regular season record: 62-20
Playoffs: Won title
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Weighted average age: 32.10 years old
Regular season record: 56-26
Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Lakers
GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 32.00 years old
Regular season record: 55-27
Playoffs: Lost in second round to Trail Blazers
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.73 years old
Regular season record: 36-30
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Thunder
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.61 years old
Regular season record: 47-35
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Kings
DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.54 years old
Regular season record: 25-25
Playoffs: No
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.54 years old
Regular season record: 57-25
Playoffs: Won title
MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.45 years old
Regular season record: 53-29
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Suns
MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.45 years old
Regular season record: 61-21
Playoffs: Lost in second round to Lakers
TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.41 years old
Regular season record: 41-41
Playoffs: No
Harry How /Allsport
Weighted average age: 31.34 years old
Regular season record: 50-32
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Hornets
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.32 years old
Regular season record: 55-27
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Spurs
JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.28 years old
Regular season record: 33-17
Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Knicks
ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.25 years old
Regular season record: 57-25
Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Jazz
Anne Ryan-USA TODAY
Weighted average age: 31.22 years old
Regular season record: 69-13
Playoffs: Won title
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.15 years old
Regular season record: 45-37
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Spurs
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.13 years old
Regular season record: 49-33
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Spurs
USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.09 years old
Regular season record: 50-32
Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Bulls
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.07 years old
Regular season record: 58-24
Playoffs: Won title
Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.06 years old
Regular season record: 48-34
Playoffs: Won title
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Weighted average age: 31.06 years old
Regular season record: 54-28
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Mavericks
Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.04 years old
Regular season record: 54-28
Playoffs: Lost Finals to Spurs
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Weighted average age: 31.03 years old
Regular season record: 50-32
Playoffs: Lost Finals to Warriors