The Longevity of Tim Duncan
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- Created on Sunday, 27 January 2013 16:22
- Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51
- Written by Russell Banton
A lot of attention is being given to Tim Duncan having a surprising year at 36 years of age. The general consensus is that it is extremely unusual if not an original year.
Let’s take a look at how his current year compares to the all-time best big men in NBA history.
Here is what Mr. Duncan has done this year:
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
32 30.2 9.7 2.5 .8 2.5 1.7 1.7 17.7
This is how his performance looks per 36 minutes:
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Of the top 25 big men in NBA history there were twelve of them that were retired by the time their 36th birthday came around.
Even though this research extended into the 1950’s the first NBA big man that was still playing when he was 36 years old was Wilt Chamberlain. It was the 1972-73 season but it was Chamberlain’s final season.
Considered by some the greatest big man to ever play the game the Big Dipper played 82 games that year and here are his totals. Keep in mind the league did not keep records of steals, blocks, or turnovers.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
82 43.2 18.6 4.5 2.3 13.2
It is unheard of these days for any player to average 43 minutes played per game. It seems Wilt the Stilt just never left the game that season. In fact, he played a very subdued roll by simply anchoring the defense and collecting rebounds while his offense was mostly from rebounds, dunks, or hooks very close to the basket.
When Chamberlain’s stats are shown per 36 minutes the value is seen.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Chamberlain 15.5 3.8 1.9 11.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Though the Big Dipper had a substantial rebound advantage his difference on the offensive end is dramatic. His offensive shortcomings could be attributed to his teams other offensive options making his unnecessary. This also had a role to play in his concentration on the boards.
Advantage Duncan
Elvin Hayes’ season when he was 36 was in 1981-82. He did play two more years with dramatic decreases in every category of his play.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
82 37 9.1 1.8 .8 1.3 2.54 3.5 16.1
The Big E’s averages per 36 minutes are only slightly less than per game because of his 37 minutes played per game.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Hayes 8.8 1.8 .77 1.3 2.5 3.4 15.7
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
The season Duncan is having illustrates his superiority in virtually every category.
Advantage Duncan.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had what many consider to be the most dominant career in the modern era. The year he was 36 years of age was 1983-84. He had one more year after that with similar dominance. The years after showed considerable decline.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
80 33 7.3 2.6 .7 1.3 1.8 2.6 22.0
The Big Fella has an advantage in points per 36 minutes played but comes up shy in every other category especially the all-important rebounds and blocks. It is yet to be seen if Duncan can match what Jabbar did the next year though.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Abdul-Jabbar 8.0 2.8 .76 1.4 2.0 2.8 24.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
Artis Gilmore Also played four additional years past his 36th birthday. That year was 1985-86.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
71 34 8.5 1.4 .6 1.5 2.6 3.4 17.0
The A Train’s comparison of 36 minutes per game averages shows he did not have as an effective game as Duncan.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Gilmore 9.0 1.5 .64 1.6 2.8 3.6 18.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
Robert Parish was well known for his extended career. His year when he was 36 years of age was 1989-90. He played seven more seasons.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
79 30.3 10.1 1.3 .48 .87 2.14 2.4 15.7
The Chief had a very respectable season in rebounds and points per 36 minutes. However, he was not as adept with assists or blocks.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Parish 12.0 1.5 .57 1.0 2.5 2.9 18.7
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
In the 1990-91 season Moses Malone was 36 years old. He was already declining in production even though he played four more years.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
82 23.3 8.1 .8 .37 .9 1.67 1.6 10.6
However, the Chairman of the Boards was still affective in the time he did play. This is shown with his averages per 36 minutes played.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Malone 12.5 1.2 .57 1.4 2.6 2.5 16.4
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Big Mo certainly showed a slight dominance on the boards compared to Duncan but not anywhere else.
Advantage Duncan.
Patrick Ewing was celebrated in the Big Apple for bringing basketball back to the forefront there. He was 36 during the 1998-99 season. He played three additional years.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
38 34 9.9 1.1 .8 2.6 2.6 2.8 17.0
The Beast of the East had respectable rebound, blocks, and points averages that year. However, they were all slightly less than Duncan while the Hoya Destroya was no where near as affective in distributing the ball.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Ewing 10.5 1.2 .84 2.8 2.8 3.0 18.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
In the 1999-2000 season Hakeem Olajuwon was 36 years old. His production was dramatically decreased by then. His following year he actually improved slightly across the board but only played one more year after that.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
44 24 6.2 1.4 .9 1.6 1.7 2.0 10.0
The Dream had averages per 36 minutes played that bested Duncan in steals but fell shy everywhere else.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Olajuwon 9.3 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.6 3.0 15.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
Karl Malone is often hailed as the greatest power forward of all time. He was 36 during the 1999-2000 NBA season. He played four more years but did not show great declines in production until his final campaign.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
82 36 9.5 3.7 1.0 .9 2.8 2.8 26.0
Malone played 36 minutes per game so those averages are identical. The Mailman was still highly productive with a scoring average that was dramatically greater than Duncan. He was also a slightly better passer. Duncan is a more proficient rebounder than Malone was. The biggest difference is found on the defensive end with blocks per 36 minutes.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Malone 9.5 3.7 1.0 .9 2.8 2.8 26.0
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Slight advantage Duncan
David Robinson was 36 during the 2001-02 season. His production was already in decline. He played only one more year.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
78 30 8.3 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.3 2.5 12.0
The Admiral shows averages per 36 minutes that were comparable in rebounds but that was it.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Robinson 10.0 1.4 1.3 2.2 1.6 3.0 14.4
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
The 2002-03 season had Dikembe Mutombo playing in his 36th year. He only played in 26 games though. Even though his production had declined he played six more seasons with more games played in each except his final year.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
24 21 6.4 .8 .2 1.5 1.4 2.3 5.8
Mt. Mutombo basically matched Duncan in rebounds and blocks per 36 minutes but fell short in every other category.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
Mutombo 11.0 1.4 .34 2.6 2.4 3.9 9.9
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
Shaquille O’Neal is often referred to as the most physically imposing big man in the modern era with his shear force. He was playing less minutes when he was 36 like Duncan but the 2008-09 season showed him still productive. He played two more seasons.
G MPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOPG PFPG PPG
75 30 8.4 1.7 .6 1.4 2.2 3.4 18.0
The Diesel was still an excellent rebounder as is illustrated by his average per 36 minutes. The Big Aristotle also scored the ball as well as Duncan per 36 minutes. Shaq Daddy falls short in the other stats especially blocks.
Reb Ast Stls Blks TO PF Pts
O’Neal 10.0 2.0 .72 1.7 2.6 4.1 21.6
Duncan 11.6 3.0 .95 3.0 2.0 2.0 21.1
Advantage Duncan.
When we consider each of the other great big men that were playing when they were 36 years of age it becomes clear that Tim Duncan is giving us an unusual performance this year.
Though The Big Fundamental is excelling well beyond most of the big men in NBA history there are those that also had productive years. Wilt Chamberlain, Robert Parish, and Moses Malone were better rebounders. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone were superior in scoring at the same age.
The true answer to Duncan being the most productive big man well into his 30’s will have to wait a few more years. Jabbar’s season of his 37th birthday was as productive as the year before. More impressive were Karl Malone’s next three years where his averages per 36 minutes were around 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
For Tim Duncan to be considered the greatest big man in longevity he needs to continue as he has this year for three more years. Is that possible? His determination, commitment, and professionalism certainly make even the most unexpected possible.
Here is to his continued health and enjoyment of the game. It is a pleasure to witness what Tim Duncan has done, is doing, and will do in the annals of basketball history.
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