Published: August 15, 2009 04:45 pm      

New discovery in NBA: Experience wins!

DUNCAN — As the growth rings increase on the trunk of your life tree, let’s face it, you start getting a little touchy about perceptions of age.

Baby Boomers have discovered the aging process is a lot different than we thought. To many in m-m-m-my g-g-g-generation, 50 or 60 doesn’t seem nearly as old as it did in the days of bellbottoms and tie-dyed shirts.

We’re embarrassed we made such a big deal about being 30. We’ve realized “hope I die before I get old” may have sounded cool in the ’60s, but it’s pretty hollow in 2009.

So, you’re asking, where am I headed? Well, I’m going to one of my comfort zones, the World of Perspiring Arts.

A while back, I read an analysis piece headlined “Age is all the rage: Mavs assemble veteran squad, following path of other top teams.” ’Twas written by Eddie Sefko, the Dallas Mavericks beat writer for The Dallas Morning News.

Sefko noted that in putting together a roster for the 2009-10 NBA season, the Mavs were following a trend in pro hoops. As he put it, “This team is growing older, and if you’ve watched the new-era NBA, that’s not a bad thing.”

It was difficult to distinguish how much of Sefko’s piece was insightful analysis and how much was tongue-in-cheek poking fun at his elders. A remark like, “To win big, the new way is to go old.”, sounded astute — until you realized the context.

See, Sefko proposed that in professional thumps, the line of demarcation for “old” was age 30. (Does this sound familiar, fellow Boomers?)

The story was written shortly after the Mavs acquired power forward Shawn Marion, who is — ohmygawd — 31, the same age as Dallas’ perennial all-star Dirk Nowitzki and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry. Then there’s 33-year-old center Erick Dampier and creaky ol’ point guard Jason Kidd, who somehow arises from his wheelchair to direct the Mavs’ offense at age 36.

And if that ancient group weren’t enough, Sefko added, “Josh Howard will join the 30 set next season.”

The 30 set? At that point in his thesis, Sefko seemed to imply the Mavs would have to remove their oxygen masks and put down their canes to take part in a pre-game lay-up drill.

Then Sefko backed off dissing the elderly and cut to the chase, and that’s when I calmed down a little. See, when it came to the basic premise, Sefko and I are actually on the same page — even if my page is more “yellowed” than his.

Take a look at the teams that are consistent contenders and NBA champions.

The Celtics won in 2008 with three star players — Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce — who’ve all crossed the 30 threshold. The San Antonio Spurs will put 33-year-old Tim Duncan on the floor this season, with Antonio McDyess (34), Manu Ginobili (31) and Michael Finley (36), and they’re serious contenders for a title.

Denver was a playoff threat last season, even though Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin and Chris Anderson have all topped 30.

When youngster Dwayne Wade brought a title to Miami in 2006, it was with considerable help from a 34-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, and in hopes of keeping LaBron James in Cleveland by finally winning a title, the Cavaliers have brought in Shaquille, who’s now 37.

The Lakers won this year’s championship with key contributions from 34-year-old Derek Fisher. And, by the by, Kobe Bryant is now 30. Has he given much sign of being over the hill?

So, let me dodder to the point: Because NBA teams have spent the last two decades shelling out kazillions of dollars to 19- and 20-year-olds, it’s created an illusion that youth wins. That illusion gets intensified because we live in a culture that puts over-emphasis on being young and pushes youth ahead of experience.

Compared to other professions, there’s a short shelf-life in the World of Perspiring Arts — no doubt about that. In most sports, even the greatest players have retired by their late 30s.

But in the NBA, you still need experienced players to win championships. It’s always been that way, it’s just taken the new-breed owners a while to figure out that vibrant young players bring “ooohs” and “aaahs” to the table, but it’s veterans who do the heavy lifting and produce the titles.

Now, excuse me, I’m taking my drool cup and going back to the rest home. They’re bringing the Jell-O snacks around soon. Harrumph! Harrumph!



— Jeff Kaley is editor of the Waurika News-Democrat and a Duncan Banner columnist. He can be reached at 580-228-2316 or e-mailed at jeff.kaley@duncanbanner.com.