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The NBA’s got players playing older and older. If this list of players was a team put together in 2005, they would have beaten M.J.’s Bulls 72-win season record. It really is sad to see these players careers dwindling down the way they are now, compared to what they were at the beginning of their careers.
For the basketball fans of today, seeing a withered and old Shawn Marion or Richard Jefferson really doesn’t do anyone any favors. These players were elite in their prime and could most likely/need to call it a day (or a career, in this instance). We start with number 10:
10 – Elton Brand
The name ‘Elton Brand’ is simply irrelevant in the game of basketball in the current day. But in his prime, Brand was an elite power forward and put up nightly averages of 25 points and 10 boards a game for the Clippers in 2005.
Sadly, Brand only appeared in 36 games for the Atlanta Hawks this season and averaged a lowly 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He’s not even a shade of his 20 point, 10 rebound self with the Clippers in the mid-2000s. Elton Brand needs to retire while we all still remember he still plays in the NBA.
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9 – Jason Richardson
There was a period of time that I forgot J-Rich was even in the league. A member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Richardson has been hammered by injuries in the past few years. Due to those injuries, Richardson only played in 19 games this season for Philly.
Richardson is a mere shadow of the player that used to dazzle crowds with his athletic plays and simply incredible dunks in his Charlotte and Phoenix days.
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8 – Andre Miller
At 39 years of age, Andre Miller should have retired 3 or 4 years ago. At this point of a players career they usually resort to a pocket three point shooter, but even in his prime Miller was a bad shooter.
The Cavs drafted Miller with the 8th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, but only repped the 216 for three seasons before being traded in a deal in which Cleveland acquired Darius Miles.
Miller was once capable of of 17 points and 7 dimes a night, but that was all the way back in 2008.
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7 – Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson was a huge part of the New Jersey Nets’ success in the early 2000’s. He played for the Nets at a high level for 7 seasons, reaching the NBA Finals alongside Jason Kidd and Dikembe Mutombo in 2003.
Jefferson was never a huge rebounder or assists man in his career, but was able to average as many as 22.6 points a night in his last season in New Jersey.
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6 – Jason Terry
The Jet should have called it a career after winning his title with the Mavs in 2011, or at least at the end of last season.
Terry was an elite fixture in a Mavs jersey for 8 seasons before trying his luck with the Celtics, Nets and now Rockets. Sure, Terry is starting for a team currently in the Western Conference Finals, but has nowhere near the swagger of the Jet of the past.
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5 – Shawn Marion
If I had to name my favorite ‘Big 3’ to watch, it would have to be the Marion, Stoudemire and Nash Phoenix Suns. Marion used to be an elite defender, scorer and even a rebounder for his size and position.
Trix’s stats have plumetted this season with his little playing time under David Blatt and it really is a shame to see. Marion beat LeBron James out for a title in 2011, let’s hope they can win one together this season.
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4 – Vince Carter
This man is the best player to ever pull on a Toronto Raptors jersey. Arguably the best ever in-game dunker, it’s sad to see how excited the crowd now gets when Vince grazes the rim on a fast break.
Carter was Rookie of the Year and has been an NBA All-Star 8 times in his illustrious career. It truly is sad to see him reduced to a bench role player in the current day.
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3 – Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett returning as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves was a fantastic move for both teams. The Nets received a relevant and productive player in Thad Young, while the Wolves ultimately received a playing coach and a guy with some serious pride for the name on the front of the jersey.
Garnett is ultimately that, a playing coach. Maybe it’s time for him to retire the ‘playing’ part and take on an official mentoring role.
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2 – Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce played like the Paul Pierce of old in the clutch moments of the Wizards playoff moments. Even Pierce knows that his time is running up and it may be time to retire before he becomes irrelevant such as guys like T-Mac and Allen Iverson at the tail ends of their careers.
Pierce still has the ability to be productive for a few more seasons, but may be smart enough to call it while he’s still a player that people fear ad respect.
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1 – Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli
It was only fitting to put these guys together on this list, they seem to be a packaged deal in either retirement or playing on another season.
Duncan and Ginobli continue to be ageless wonders, producing season after season and doing so at a high level. If the Spurs can bring in some younger talent to aid these aging Spurs in their quest for another ring, don’t be surprised to see them both back for one last shot at it.