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Why do so many superstars not decline at that 33-35 age range anymore? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by SkyHiighGroundLow@alien.top to c/nba@nba.space

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This was definitely a thing just back in the 2000s. You had guys like melo, tmac, Paul pierce, wade, Dwight ect all decline in this age range or way before. People always mentioned lebron still being so good when he was 33. At first that seemed like an anomaly. Now, you have guys like curry, kd, kawhi, dame, lebron still(lol) jimmy butler, all still being in their prime at 33+. Is it an advancement in technology and medicine? Something else?

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[–] 0siris0@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Probably some selective memory here, as there were some guys playing well in their 30s in the 90s, 00s, 10s.

Although if it is true that players are playing better in their 30s than before, one factor is that the league has deemphasized back to the basket, post up offense since the early 10s.

Post up offense, whether by center or guard, requires two players grinding against each other like an offensive and defensive lineman. That has an impact on the body over 80 games, not much different then what you see happen to the knees of linemen after 10+ year careers. You can just exert so much effort to push yourself into another who is exerting all his effort to push you back for so long before those muscles and ligaments get worn.

Now it's not like every player was posting up for 48 minutes, but just removing the "football-esque" physical grind from basketball has likely had an impact on the bodies of players, and helped prolong careers.