The 2023-24 season has just begun 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 the fact that when some teams are at their best, others are in reconstruction. Such context is fully related to the years of the players of each franchise, since those who start from scratch usually opt for young players to develop.
Middle age NBA templates
- San Antonio Spurs: 23,5 years
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 23,8 years
- Portland Trail Blazers: 24,2 years
- Orlando Magic: 24,3 years
- Detroit Pistons: 24,9 years
- Utah Jazz: 24,9 years
- Charlotte Hornets: 25 years
- Indiana Pacers: 25,1 years
- Brooklyn Nets: 25,1 years
- Memphis Grizzlies: 25,5 years
- New Orleans Pelicans: 25,6 years
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 25,7 years
- Los Angeles Lakers: 25,9 years
- Washington Wizards: 25,9 years
- Atlanta Hawks: 26,1 years
- New York Knicks: 26,1 years
- Houston Rockets: 26,6 years
- Denver Nuggets: 26,6 years
- Sacramento Kings: 26,7 years
- Chicago Bulls: 26,8 years
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 27,1 years
- Boston Celtics: 27,1 years
- Dallas Mavericks: 27,3 years
- Toronto Raptors: 27,4 years
- Miami Heat: 27,6 years
- Phoenix Suns: 28,1 years
- Philadelphia 76ers: 28,5 years
- Golden State Warriors: 28,5 years
- Milwaukee Bucks: 28,8 years
- Los Angeles Clippers: 29,1 years
Lakers and Jazz, the most rejuvenated
Right. Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz share the honor of being the two franchises that have reduced the most the average age of its staff compared to the 2022-23 academic year, exactly in 1,6 years. Californians, who twelve months ago had an average of 27,5 years, have now reached 25,9. Such a change was expected, since last season it was noted that the team lacked energy on the hardwood, something that was attributed to the lack of young players.
As for those from Salt Lake City, they continue to take steps towards the construction of a new project with young pieces, so it is not surprising that they have gone from 26,5 years to 24,9. Choices like that of rookie Kevonte George, number 13 in the last draft, have helped this.
The Clippers, new grandfather of the NBA
After seeing the Milwaukee Bucks as the oldest team in the 2022-23 campaign, reaching an average of 30,1 years, this time such honor falls to Los Angeles Clippers, who stand at 29,1 years. We are talking about a team in which up to eight pieces are at least 30 years old, highlighting the 34 of Marcus Morris or Russell Westbrook, or the 33 of players like Paul George or Mason Plumlee.
The truth is that having older players usually goes hand in hand with being a team that is a contender for the ring. Therefore, it is normal to see the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers or Phoenix Suns right next to the Clippers. Those who deviate a little from this trend, in addition to Lakers, are the Boston Celtics who are at 27,1 years.
San Antonio, when leaving class
If the Spurs were already rebuilding before, now they directly live at the school. Last season, those from Texas were already young with an average of 24,3 years old, but in the present they have taken another step to position themselves at 23,5 years old as the franchise with the youngest roster in the NBA. We are talking about a team with up to seven boys aged 21 or younger, highlighting of course the presence of the number 1 in the 2023 draft, Victor Wembanyama. Close to Gregg Popovich's boys, and on the youth podium, are the Oklahoma City Thunder in second place and the Portland Trail Blazers in third.
Spotrac data y The Ringer.
(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)