Much like height, having large hands is a natural advantage in a sport centered around ball control and the ability to dominate on the court.

How is hand size measured?

Hand size is measured in two different ways. Hand length is measured from the base, or bottom, of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. Hand span is determined by spreading the fingers as far apart as possible, then measuring from the tip of the pinky finger to the tip of the thumb.

There are some notoriously large hands in NBA history. While size usually helped players dominate on the court, some are actually hindered by their massive hands. For instance, Shaq struggled with free throws his entire career.

These are some of the biggest hands in NBA history.

Boban Marjanović

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 10.75”/12”
• Height: 7’3”

Boban arguably has the largest hands in NBA history, edging out Shaq with his slightly longer hand length. He may even have the largest hands in the world. This could be proven if his hands were ever measured, but right now his measurements are just based on images of him comparing his hands to other players.  

His hands are so large that they even have their own Reddit following called Boban Holding Things. The images include him holding a wine bottle, a baby, a steering wheel, and other everyday items that he makes look miniature.

Shaquille O’Neal

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 10.25”/12”
• Height: 7’1”

Shaq’s hands are legendary in the NBA. With his huge hands and size 22 shoes, he was an immovable force during his time on the court. 

While his biggest impact was towering over others around the rim, he struggled offensively with some of his shooting. He was specifically criticized for his inability to make free throws, which many people attributed to his massive hands. Many claimed the ball was too small for his hands, and although that didn’t hinder some of the other players on this list, it may very well be true. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.85”/12”
• Height: 6’11”

With hands this big, it’s no wonder he earned himself the nickname “The Greek Freak”. His monstrous mitts and large grip give him the ability to control and handle the ball with ease and precision. They are also, by all measurements and comparison, not only some of the largest hands in NBA history, but the largest hands of any current NBA player.

He is an incredibly talented forward who plays like a point guard. He’s not afraid to run a court, take any open shot, throw down extraordinary dunks, or play defense against anyone in the league.

Gregory Smith

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.8”/12”
• Height: 6’10”

Despite one of the most impressive hand measurements in NBA Draft Combine history, Smith has not had the most stable or impressive career. Offensively, he has not produced as hoped, but defensively he excels as both a center and a power forward. He is quick and coordinated. Add this to his natural size advantage and he is able to produce, especially in the paint.

Michael Jordan

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.75”/11.375”
• Height: 6’6”

MJ is a genetic and physical anomaly. He is tall despite short parents, has small feet, and was blessed with huge hands. Known to many as the greatest player of all time, Jordan could do it all. He was the person you wanted to take the buzzer-beater shot. He was the player you wanted on the foul line. He was the guy you wanted controlling the ball and running the floor. 

In his own words, he explains the importance of his hand size. “It’s like having a paintbrush and being able to create.” He knows it gave him a better grip, more control on the dribble, and the ability to sense whether a shot would be good or bad based on the fingers that delivered the shot. 

He knows his hand size was important, and he attributes a lot of his success to his size. A true MVP, his big hands were just part of the reason he was able to dominate (both offensively and defensively) on the court.  

Connie Hawkins

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 10.5”/11”
• Height: 6’8”

While he is not a household name, he is a New York City playground street ball legend. Hawkins has some of the largest hands in NBA history, despite being shorter than others with the same hand size.

His ability to palm the ball created control and allowed him to be one of the strongest finishers at the rim. His ability to rebound the ball with one hand – a talent learned while playing for the Harlem Globetrotters – was one of his biggest defensive weapons. Few players could challenge or defeat him when he went up for the ball.

Rajon Rondo

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/10”
• Height: 6’1”

As one of the shortest players on the list, Rondo’s measurements are like no other. Some call him a freak of nature because the size of his hands are so out of proportion with his height. One of the only point guards on the list, his wingspan and hand measurements are not at all a reflection of his 6’1” stature. In fact, his hands and wingspan measurements are more like players who stand 6’11” or 7’0”.  

His freakishly huge hands and talent even earned him a spot on an ESPN SportsCenter commercial.

Noah Vonleh

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.75”/11.75”
• Height: 6’9”

Vonleh recorded both the longest hand and the widest span measurements in the 2014 NBA Draft Combine. Although his career didn’t take off the way many hoped, he is known as one of the hardest workers on the court. His goal is to improve his game step by step, and these are sometimes small steps at a time. Depsite a brief stint in the CBA, his natural talent and size certainly plays a role keeping him a relevant name in the league. No matter what else happens, he will be remembered for the size of his heart and his hands.

Julius Erving

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/11.75”
• Height: 6’7”

Dr. J is known as one of the greatest dunkers and ball handlers in NBA history. It’s said that his hands have always been huge, and that he could palm the ball off the dribble in junior high school. His size, speed, and gigantic hands have always made him one of the all-time greatest audience pleasers, with the ability and speed to perform crazy dunks. 

Kawhi Leonard

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.75”/11.25”
• Height: 6’7”

The small forward, nicknamed “The Claw,” is one of the players on this list who seemingly can do it all – shoot, dunk, pass, drain free throws, and flawlessly control the ball as he crosses up an opponent. While he excels offensively, his defense has elevated his game and value on the court. Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, there’s no doubt his massive hands contribute to his abilities. 

Leonard took to social media to show off just how big his hands are, holding two water bottles in one hand.

Wilt Chamberlain

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/11.25”
• Height: 6’11”

Though he is slightly shorter than other dominant players of his time, his huge hands helped him stand apart from those others players. He possessed a ball control unlike others, and retired with numerous records. Unlike other players that struggle with shooting because of large hands, Chamberlain is among the best shooters to ever play the game (despite a low percentage of made free throws), achieving Herculean feats such as 100 points per game and a 50.4 scoring average in one season.

Elgin Baylor

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.75”/11”
• Height: 6’5”

According to those that witnessed his grace and talent on the court, Baylor’s large hands didn’t hinder him or his game in any way. An asset both offensively and defensively, Baylor could score from anywhere on the court. Magic Johnson recalls how Baylor “could shoot from the outside, midrange, and drive the ball to the basket.”

Baylor recalls that his coaches (and most teams during his era) focused on rebounds, and getting rebounds was one of the key elements to winning games. His size overall, but especially his large hands, helped him succeed on both ends of the court, elevating him to superstar status with the Lakers. 

Jahlil Okafor

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/11.25”
• Height: 6’11”

Duke alum Jahlil Okafor is one of few people that can hold thirteen tennis balls in one hand. The average person can’t even hold half of that! Most people can hold six, maybe seven.

His massive hands became a topic of discussion during Duke’s championship run in the 2015 season, as the picture of the tennis balls circulated around the internet. These big hands allow him to make outstanding catches and also give him a soft but aggressive ability at the rim. On the other hand, his large hands have created difficulties for Okafor when it comes to his jump shots.

More Players with huge hands

Royce White:

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/11.5”
• Height: 6’8”

Wayne Embry

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.25”/11.75”
• Height: 6’8”

Trevor Mbakwe

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 9.5”/11.5”
• Height: 6’8”

Andrew Nicholson

• Hand Size (Length/Span): 10”/10.75”
• Height: 6’9”

Obviously size isn’t all that matters in basketball, whether the discussion is about hands or height. However, large hands can definitely benefit basketball players in many ways, and they can also help garner attention to players both on and off the court. 

The post 17 NBA Players With Huge Hands – They Can Palm Everything! appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

Coaching younger athletes forces coaches to focus on what really matters, keep things simple, and find the best ways to make practices both engaging and useful for their players.

Here are 7 lessons I’ve learned coaching youth basketball:

1. Keep it simple, stupid

Often, when coaching youth basketball, you don’t get to work with your team every single day. Sometimes you only see them 1-2 times between tournaments.

In an optimal world, you’d have gym access and daily time with your team. This likely won’t be the case for you.

WIth that in mind, you must learn to keep things very simple.

Focus on the things that are truly important and cut out any extra fluff that isn’t going to help your team be ready for their games.

2. Plan in detail, but be flexible

I can’t tell you how many times the length of practice changed last minute, we ended up having access to 2 baskets instead of the 4 I thought we would have, or we only had 6-7 players available to show up for practice.

Flexibility is your friend.

Practices are probably not going the way you picture them in your head or wrote them down on your piece of paper. And that’s okay.

Your ability to adjust on the fly, make changes, and use whatever resources you have – while remaining positive – will go a long way.

3. How to use your time wisely

When you only have an hour to practice once a week, you learn how to use your time more wisely.

Choose the most important things you need to work on and spend the majority of your time there.

The main questions I would ask here are:

• What do we need to be able to do in the game that we can’t do right now?
• What skills are we lacking in?
• What fundamentals of the game do I need to teach my players?

Do those things instead of cute passing drills, silly games, or wasting everyone’s time with long-winded pre-practice speeches. 

Also, try to avoid stopping drills if you can!

4. You can not over-communicate.

This is true for players and parents.

With your players, constantly communicate your expectations, what they are supposed to be doing, where they are supposed to be cutting, how playing time works, etc.

When you coach younger athletes, you WILL have to constantly remind them about the smallest of details. And they will still do it wrong during the game. That’s okay. It’s part of the process.

With your parents, communicate in as many ways as possible about things like playing time, practice and game schedules, expectations, volunteer opportunities to help, your rules etc.

Start a small email list with your players, use a text chain, have meetings from time to time.

You can not over-communicate!

5. Keep your practices super engaging and interesting.

Choose drills that will teach your players how to play, but will also be interesting and engaging for them.

Avoid having your players standing in line at all costs.

Enlist parents or siblings of your players to help in drills.

Spend 5-10 minutes on a single thing before moving on. Younger athletes just don’t have the attention span to truly stay focused on the task at hand for longer than this. Introduce it, work on it, move on!

6. This should be fun

Youth sports are supposed to be an enjoyable experience for your players. If they aren’t having fun while getting better, you need to adjust how you’re doing things.

Your players should look forward to practice.

I always made it a personal goal to make sure everyone on my team felt good at the end of the practice – this can be achieved through telling a story or joke that makes everyone laugh, having fun with the post-practice huddle, or ending practice with some sort of contest against coaches.

When they leave, they should leave feeling like they love basketball, they love coming to practice, they had fun with their teammates and friends, and they maybe learned a little about basketball along the way.

7. It’s not about you.

We see it all the time on social media – examples of coaches taking themselves too seriously, stealing the joy of youth sports from kids, and making it all about the reliving of glory days or some made up goal in the future.

Don’t be these people.

Make every decision around how it will impact and benefit your players. Put them first, advocate for them, and drop your ego. 

Ten years (days?) from now, nobody is going to care if you won the county youth parks and recreation basketball league. They will care that you helped them love the game, helped them get better, and were a positive adult role model in their lives.

The post 7 Things I Learned From Coaching Youth Basketball appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

Here is a list of several popular cuts used in basketball – with information and a diagram for each.

Basics when cutting:

• Make eye contact
• Provide a target
• Set it up
• Sell it
• Read the defense

1. V-Cut

• This classic cut is used to get open on the wing (or other areas of the court).
• Players use this cut most frequently when trying to receive a pass on the wing.
• To get open, take your defender DOWN before popping out UP – in the shape of a V.

2. L-Cut

• This is similar to a V Cut, but you will cut in an L shape instead of a V.
• The cutter will cut up and then out to get open to receive a pass.

3. Veer Cut

• Without fouling your defender, take a few steps toward them and in the last second, veer off in the direction you want.
• This uses the law of physics to help you get open and doesn’t give the defense enough time to react to your movement.

4. Face Cut/Front Cut

• This is a simple cut right in front of the face of an opponent.
• This is commonly used after you make a pass.  You make the pass and follow it with a front cut to the rim.

5. Backdoor Cut

This cut is used to go behind your opponent, specifically when they are overplaying the ball.  You can use this cut to punish the defense for being overly aggressive.

6. Dribble At Backdoor Cut

• You can also dribble at an overplayed player to force them to go backdoor
• In this diagram, x2 is overplaying 2
• 1 dribbles at 2 which sends him backdoor to the rim

7. Curl Cut

• When receiving a screen from a teammate, you can choose to “curl” the screen to the rim or perimeter.
• When curling, you want to cut towards the ball and provide a target for your teammate to throw to.
• This cut is commonly used when the defense is trailing you on the screen.

8. Pop

• Instead of rolling after the ball screen, the screener can pop to an open area.
• This is a good move if the screener is a good shooter.

9. Flare Cut

• A flare screen is a unique screen that requires the player to actually cut away from the ball.
• The player should set this screen up by taking a step towards the ball before fading away using the flare screen.

10. Ghost Screen

• This action is getting more and more popular in the modern game.
• The player goes to set a ball screen but instead of planting their feet, they fake the screen and usually pop.
• This can open up a driving line for the ball handler or a pop out for the screener for an open shot.

11. Roll

• After setting the ball screen, this is the classic roll to the rim action.
• The screener sets both feet.  When the ball handler dribbles by the screen, the screener rolls to the rim.

12. Slip

• This ball screen read is similar to a ghost screen, but the screener is now slipping to the rim instead of popping out.
• Right before the screener gets to the ball, they slip to the rim.
• This can be used when teams are defending ball screens aggressively with a hard hedge or trap.

13. Flex Cut

• The flex offense used to be very popular due to its difficulty to defend.
• One of the main actions was a cross screen.
• The “flex cut” can be made above or below the screen.

14. Shallow Cut

• This cut often happens after the ball has been passed.
• The player will pass the ball to a teammate and then “shallow cut” inside that player to the same side corner or wing.
• This often opens space up to drive.

15. UCLA Cut

• Made famous by John Wooden in his UCLA days, this cut uses a back screen after a pass to the wing.
• The goal here is to get a layup after using the screen.

16. Iverson Cut

An Iverson cut features the player cutting above screens to catch the ball on the opposite side of the floor.

17. 45 Cut

• The 45 cut is named as such because of where the cut takes place (usually the 45/wing).
• This cut happens when the help-side defense is occupied with other action like a ball screen or baseline drive.
• The player cuts into the gap behind the defense for an easy shot.

18. Shake/Replace Cut

• During ball screens, a third defender is usually used to prevent a layup.
• If your man is helping on the ball screen, using a “shake” or “replace” cut can make it difficult for the defender to guard both the roll man and cutter effectively.

The post Basketball Cuts – 18 Different Types of Cutting in Basketball appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

In this article you’ll learn exactly how much players make in the NBA minor league:

Highest Paid NBA G-League Player 

The highest paid G League players in 2021/22 were playing on a two-way contract earning them $462,629 (half of the rookie minimum).

An example of a player on a two-way contract is Sharife Cooper, who was on a two-way contract for the NBA Atlanta Hawks and the G League College Park Skyhawks.

You can find a list of all two-way players here.

In previous seasons, the highest salaries were comparable. For the 2020-2021 season, the highest paid G League player was Jalen Green, who reportedly made $500,000 playing for the NBA G League Ignite. Green went on to sign with the Houston Rockets, with a salary of $8,992,080.

Minimum Salary in the G-League

The lowest a G League player can earn is $7,400 a month, or $37,000 for a seasonal contract for five months of play. This is also the median salary and the salary that most of the players in this league receive.

This contract will also cover housing and insurance, which are added benefits for all players. For many of the younger players, a primary goal of the G League is to prepare them not only for the NBA, but for life in general.

Contracts and Salary Scale

Unlike the NBA, where players sign a contract to play with one specific team, players enter into a G League contract. Under this contract, players sign a one-year contract to play within the league, not on an individual team. The only exclusion to this is players that are on assignment or two-way contract from an NBA team. 

There are different categories of players in the NBA G-League with different type of contracts:

G League Drafted Players

Salary: $37,000 per season

These players get a contract with the G-League for $37,000 for the 5-month season.

Since they don’t sign a contract with any specific team, they are eligible to be called up to the NBA anytime during the season by any NBA team.

Select Contract

Salary: Starts from $125,000 per season. Pay is negotiable, Jaylen Green earned $500,000 in 20/21.

These contracts are for players with elite skills who choose not to attend college. It’s a way for players with NBA talent to stay in the US and develop close to home while still earning good money. Previously, players who didn’t attend college had to play overseas for a year (like LaMelo Ball or Brandon Jennings).

Examples of Select Players drafted in recent years are: Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, Dyson Daniels, MarJon Beauchamp and Jaden Hardy.

Two-Way Player

Salary: Starts from $502,000 in 22/23 (half of minimum rookie contract)

Each NBA team is allotted two roster spots for two-way players, who will spend the majority of their time playing in the G League. Only players who are in their fourth season of the NBA or earlier are eligible to be a two-way player.

Under this contract, players are eligible to appear in up to fifty NBA games but are not eligible for the NBA Playoffs. 

Assignment Player

Salary: Players keep earning the salary specified in their NBA contract, even when assigned to the G League.

NBA teams are allowed to send players with less than three years of service to their NBA G League affiliates. The NBA team maintains the assigned player’s rights and can recall that player at any time.

Young players that don’t see the court often with their NBA teams are often send to the G League to give them playing time and confidence playing against other professionals.

About the G League

The NBA G League (formerly the NBA D-League, or Developmental League) is the official minor league of the NBA. Beginning in the 2017-2018 season, the league changed its name following an extended contract with Gatorade (hence the “G” League). With 29 teams across the country and one in Mexico, it attracts talent on both a national and international level.

The G League serves two primary purposes. First, it is a research and development tool. This league offers elite professional basketball competition for international prospects, undrafted players, NBA players on a minor league assignment, or NBA players that have been waived. This league also allows teams and coaches to scout talent and fill open roster spots with undrafted players or free agents. As a development tool, it allows players to maintain training, practice, and game stamina in a highly competitive arena. 

Secondly, the G League is a training tool, not only for the players but for every other position a team may need. It can help prepare players both on and off the court. It allows players to improve their game and also aims to coach them off the court in regards to housing, insurance, health, and money management. It is also a training too for coaches, office staff, officials, and trainers for a future in the NBA. Every team, whether it be in the NBA or in the G League, has a staff on the court, in the front office, and behind the scenes. This is a great stepping stone for people hoping to move to a professional sport. 

The G League has produced and hosted a great amount of talent since its inception. With so many outlets and paths to join the league, there are players in the league at many different stages in their careers. In the 2021-2022 season, 41 percent of players on NBA start-of-season rosters had G League experience, and there was a record 45 percent in the previous season. Last year, every NBA team had at least one G League alumni playing for them. 

The post G-League Salary – How Much do G-League Players Make? appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

However, there are exceptions. Lebron James, at age 36, was still one of the most productive players of the 2021/22 season and made the third team All-NBA. It seems father time can be defeated (or at least slowed down) if you spend $1.5M a year on your body!

What other players had long and successful careers in the NBA? Let’s take a look at this comprehensive list of the oldest players during the 21/22 season and in NBA history.

Oldest NBA Players in the 21/22 Season

1. Udonis Haslem (41 years)

Undrafted in 2002, Haslem has been with the Miami Heat since 2003. A three-time NBA Champion and a member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Haslem has had a long and successful career.

During the 2013-2014 season, Haslem was replaced in the Heat rotation, losing the spot he had occupied for ten years. Although his time on the court continued to decrease with each season, he continued to re-sign with the Heat. 

In this scenario, many other players have taken offers from other teams or left the NBA to play overseas. He only played in one game last season, but he has embraced his new place and role on the team. Even without playing in games, he works as though he’s a starter. If he is not able to be in the rotation of consistent Heat players, his goal is to elevate the players on the court and impact winning however he can. 

Haslem commented, “The only shift is that I’m not getting minutes on the court. But it still keeps my competitive fire, my juices flowing, and it still keeps me young and active. So it’s a two-way street.”

“Just like I’m preparing them, they’re preparing me. It’s not so much 30, 45 minutes a game, but it’s moments when I’m called upon to come out there. And it might be impactful moments and I need to be ready for those. Those are the moments I prepare for. Also, I cherish getting these guys prepared. I take it personally to help them perform and the way they go out there and do their jobs.”

2. Joe Johnson (40 years)

Johnson was drafted 10th overall in the 2001 NBA draft to the Boston Celtics. With the exception of 2019-2021 when he played in the BIG3 league, Johnson has spent his entire professional career in the NBA. He has played for numerous teams, including the Celtics, Suns, Hawks, Nets, Heat, Jazz, and Rockets. 

In 2021 he returned to the Celtics, who were struggling due to Covid to fill their roster. During this return, he appeared in one game. With his single basket in this game, he became only the second NBA player (along with Dirk Nowitzki) to score a basket with the same team at the age of 20 and 40.

3. Andre Igoudala (37 years)

Iguodala was drafted 9th overall by the 76ers in the 2004 NBA draft. Dick Vitale claimed Iguodala wouldn’t make it at the NBA level and Andre used that criticism as motivation and went on to have a fantastic rookie season. He was the only 76er to start and play in all 82 regular-season games, plus 5 playoff games. 

Since then, Iguodala has been part of four different NBA teams in 18 seasons, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors. During his career in the NBA, he has been a 4-time NBA Champion. He has also been named an NBA Finals MVP and an NBA All-Star.

He returned to the Warriors in 2021 after two seasons in Miami, and even though he missed 31 games between January and April due to a back injury, he was able to contribute to their Finals run to beat the Boston Celtics.  

4. Carmelo Anthony (37 years)

Anthony has had a successful NBA career. Playing one season at Syracuse before declaring for the NBA draft in 2003, he has been in the league since he was just 19 years old. Drafted 3rd overall to the Denver Nuggets, Anthony (along with Dwayne Wade and Lebron James) was part of a draft class with very high expectations. 

Although he never won an NBA Championship, Anthony has certainly been a game-changer. A 10-time NBA All-Star, he has played for the Nuggets, Knicks, Thunder, Rockets, Trailblazers, and (most recently) the Lakers. In 2021, Anthony signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Due to injuries and inconsistencies, the season was not as productive as many had hoped for.

Last season, he appeared in 69 games, averaging 13.3 points. Known for his offensive maneuvers and scoring ability, he remains an offensive threat and highly-regarded player in the league. 

5. Lebron James

After 19 seasons in the NBA, Lebron James has established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history. With a list of awards, honors, and records, it’s easy to see why Lebron remains one of the most sought-after players in the league. He is a game-changer, both on and off the court.

Signing with the Lakers in 2018, Lebron has been a big part of bringing an NBA Championship team back to Los Angeles. Although he suffered an ankle injury and only played in 56 games in the 2021-22 season, it was a year of record-breaking and record-setting for James. On March 27th, he became the second player in NBA history to reach 37,000 total points. He became the oldest player to have multiple 50-point games in a single season. He recorded his 10,000 career assist. 

Age is just a number, and Lebron has many numbers larger than 36 that are solidifying his spot in the NBA. 

Oldest NBA Players Ever

1. Kevin Willis

Age: 44 years 239 days

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks

Last Game: The last game he played in was against the Seattle Supersonics on April 18th, 2007. The Mavs made the playoffs in 2007, but he was either inactive or did not play in the playoff series.

Known as the NBA’s “Godfather of Fashion,” Willis didn’t have to stay in the NBA for 23 years. In the company of a few other players with careers as long as his, he is an NBA legend. He is also a fashion icon. During the summer, he would intern with fashion designers such as Tommy Hilfiger to learn more about his other fashion, and what would become his other career.

Willis remained relevant in the league for so long because he was talented and driven. Drafted 11th overall in 1984, many teams traded for him in order to have a solid veteran presence on their rosters. But he was also a force as a player. Standing 7’0” with arms that could be registered weapons, he was one of the NBA’s greatest rebounders. He is one of the elite NBA retirees boasting over 16,000 career points and 11,000 career rebounds. 

After two decades in the NBA, he finally won a NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. After the 2007 season, he returned to his clothing business, Willis & Walker, which had taken off in Atlanta. He remained active in the NBA, designing clothes, bags, and other apparel for individuals and teams. 

2. Robert Parish

Age: 43 years 254 days

Teams: Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls

Last Game: May 5, 1997 (he did not play in the twelve playoff games after this date, as Chicago would win the NBA Championship this season).

Robert Parish is considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time. With 1,611 appearances, he holds the record for most games played. In those games, he accumulated:

• 23,334 points
• 14,715 rebounds,
• 2,361 blocks

Along with these impressive stats, he was also a 4-time NBA Champion, a 9-time NBA All-Star, an All-NBA second and third team choice, a 2-time member of the NBA anniversary team, and an inductee to the NBA Hall of Fame. 

It’s obvious why Parish was in the league for as long as he was – his talent was unmatched by many of his opponents. This was an especially great feat because he was 7’0” tall. To be this tall and be such a great shooter was a double threat that many teams wanted. He was also very well-known for his humble nature. He was great, but he was modest. The Celtics honored his legacy by retiring his jersey, #00, in 1998.

3. Vince Carter

Age: 43 years 45 days

Teams: Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks

Last Game: March 11, 2020

Vince Carter played his last NBA game on the same day the league shut down for Covid. Nobody knew when the league would continue, but Carter had already planned to retire at the end of the 2019-2020 season. A legendary NBA career ended with 1,541 games and astounding stats:

• 25,728 points
• 6,606 rebounds
• 4,714 assists

A 5th overall draft pick out of UNC, Carter was a game-changer for the teams he played on. The only player in NBA history to play games in four different decades, Carter was skilled both on and off the court. 

Along with Rookie of the Year, All-NBA, and 8-time All-Star honors, he was recognized as much for his talent as for his character and work ethic. Throughout his career, Carter received an NBA Sportsmanship Award, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, Most Influential Veteran, NBPA’s Backbone Award, and NBPA’s Most Respected Award. 

With this unique combination of talent, leadership, and grit, it’s no wonder Vince Carter was a powerhouse in the league for as long as he was.

4. Dikembe Mutombo

Age: 42 years 326 days

Teams: Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Nets, Houston Rockets

Last Game: April 21, 2009 (classified as inactive for the remainer of the playoffs)

Known as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in NBA history, Mutombo had a storied career. Inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2015, he is recognized for his talents and other contributions to the league. 

4th overall pick to the Nuggets in the 1991 draft, Mutombo began establishing himself right from the start. He was selected to the All-Star team as a rookie, and only continued to grow and improve as a player. Playing in 1,196 games total, he finished his career with 11,729 points, 12,359 rebounds, and 3,289 blocks. 

Throughout his career, Mutombo was honored in numerous ways, including:

• 8-time NBA All-Star
• All-NBA 2nd Team
• 2-time All-NBA 3rd Team
• 4-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year
• 3-time NBA All-Defensive 1st Team and 3-time NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team

Outside of the NBA, Mutombo is known for his humanitarian work, especially for his native Democratic Republic of Congo and his support of the Special Olympics. Although it was his talent and attitude that kept him in the league, he will surely be remembered for his work outside of the NBA as well.

5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Age: 42 years 58 days

Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers

Last Game: June 13, 1989

Regarded by many people as one of the greatest players of all time, it is crystal clear why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was able to remain in the NBA for 20 successful seasons. Playing for 6 seasons with the Bucks and 14 with the Lakers, his legacy is forever imprinted on the NBA and the NCAA. He was known not only for his height and defensive skills but also for his offensive ability. His ambidextrous skyhook and clutch field goal shots made him the 8th-ranked most accurate scorer of all time. 

Kareem is a 6-time NBA Champion (and added two more NBA Championships as an assistant coach for the Lakers). Although one of his championships came with the Bucks, his true dynasty was as part of the Lakers organization. Known as “Cap” or “Captain” by his colleagues, his leadership and talent earned him the respect of those around him.

Abdul-Jabbar is a record 6-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time ALL-NBA Team member, and an 11-time All-Defensive Team member. He was named to three NBA Anniversary Teams (the 35th, 50th, and 75th), and ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007, the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008, and the second greatest player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016.

At the time of his retirement in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar held the record for most career games played in the NBA (1560), most points scores (38,387), most field goals made (15,837), and most minutes played (57,446). Numbers don’t lie – and his stats are off the charts. If you ask Pat Riley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best player of all time. The GOAT.

6. Udonis Haslem

Age: 42 years, 30 days, and counting

Teams: Miami Heat

Haslem has lasted so long in the NBA for two main reasons. First, he works like he is still playing in every game. His goal is to be prepared to play whenever his team needs him. He continuously does whatever he needs to do to not only maintain a spot on the team but to improve.

Second, he embraces his role on his team, even if that role doesn’t make him the star of the show. He pushes all of the players on the team to be better and understands that when they win, he also wins. 

In recent years, he has taken on a role much like that of an assistant coach. His experience, talent, and hard work inspires teammates both on the court and in the locker room. This kind of “leadership by example” is priceless, and that shows in the effort of the Heat to ensure Haslem returns to the team for the 2022-23 season. 

7. Bob Cousy

Age: 41 years 150 days

Teams: Boston Celtics, Cincinnati Royals (7-game comeback after not playing for six seasons).

Last Game: January 6, 1970 

Acquired by the Celtics after the Chicago Stags folded in 1950, owner Walter Brown initially didn’t want Cousy on the roster. Proving him wrong quickly, Cousy established his place and importance as one of the league’s most dominant point guards. Playing a total of 924 games in his career, he scored 16,960 points and had 6,955 assists. Known for his street-style of play, he was able to move the ball effortlessly around himself and to others on the court.

Cousy spent his entire professional career (minus the seven games when he returned to the league briefly in 1970) in Boston. He had an extremely successful professional career, improving every year during his first decade of play. During this time, he also helped lead the team into the Celtics Dynasty, between 1957 and 1963.  During this time, the Celtics won six NBA Championships.

During the last three seasons, Cousy’s statistics began slowly decreasing. At age 34, he declared he would be retiring at the end of the 1962-1963 season. He held his retirement ceremony at a packed Boston Garden, and an emotional crowd led to a 20-minute farewell speech. 

8. Herb Williams

Age: 41 years 129 days

Teams: Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors

Last Game: June 25, 1999

Williams played in a total of 1,102 NBA games, the majority of those games being for the Pacers and the Knicks. He did not have the standout career that many others on this list did. However, he remained in the league because of his consistency and leadership. 

His best years in the league were arguably his seven seasons with Indiana. Averaging over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game, he was one of their primary players. His minutes and points diminished as he changed teams, but he finished his career with 11,944 total points, 6,509 rebounds, and 1,605 blocks. 

After retiring, he went on to coach in both the NBA and WNBA for sixteen years. His careers both as a player and a coach are a testament to his skill, work ethic, and ability to elevate those around him.

9. John Stockton

Age: 41 Years 35 days

Teams: Utah Jazz

Last Game: April 30, 2003

Known as one of the best point guards and passers in NBA history, Stockton was in the league for 19 seasons. His entire career he played for the Utah Jazz, and in all 19 seasons, he helped lead them to the NBA playoffs. Although Stockton and the Jazz made it to the NBA Finals twice, Stockton was never an NBA Champion.

He played a total of 1,504 games, and in those games he accumulated the following stats:

• 19,711 total points
• 15,806 total assists
• 3,265 total steals

Along with these numbers (which demonstrate why he was one of the top point guards), he was honored as a 10-time NBA All-Star, a 2-time All-NBA First Team player, a 6-time All-NBA Second Team player, a 3-time All-NBA Third Team member, a 5-time NBA All-Defensive 2nd team, and a member of the NBA anniversary team. His number was retired by the Jazz, and Salt Lake renamed the street in front of Vivent Arena to John Stockton Drive. A statue of Stockton stands in front of the arena, along with statue of teammate Karl Malone. 

His numbers speak for themselves as to why Stockton was able to remain relevant in the league for as long as he did. Unlike many of the other players mentioned, his consistent talent and production allowed him to remain a starter until his retirement. He was also admired for his loyalty and humility. While other players sought the limelight, he stayed away from endorsements and turned down contracts for higher salaries offered by other teams. 

10. Charles Jones

Age: 41 Years 30 days

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets

Last Game: May 3, 1998

Playing fifteen seasons in the NBA with five different teams, Jones was never the standout player that many of the other players on this list were. He won an NBA Championship with the Rockets in 1995, but compared to others, his numbers were average. 

At the time of his retirement, Jones had played in 726 total games, amassing 1,826 points, 3,253 rebounds, and 1,134 blocks. He averaged 19.4 minutes played, and although he wasn’t a standout player, he was a consistent contributor to the teams he was a part of. 

The post Oldest Players in the NBA – 2021/22 Season and in NBA History appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

These are the extremes, but how old is the average NBA player? Let’s find out!

How Old is the Average NBA Player?

How was this data collected:

• Data was collected from basketball-reference.com
• Age was calculated using the 1st January for each season (e.g 1st January 2022 for 2021/22 season)
• Exact age is used for the statistics (26.5 years instead of 26 for example)

Graph 1: Average Age of NBA Players by Year:

In the 2021/22 season the average NBA player was 26.1 years old.

This number includes all players that played at least one game during the season, therefore including a lot of young prospects that only played very few minutes.

The average age weighted by minutes played is a little higher at 26.5 years, showing that older and more experienced players are usually taking up more minutes than rookies and other prospects.

The median age at 25.1 is also a lot younger than the average age. Which shows that there are a few outlier older players that account for a lot of minutes (think Lebron James) compared to a lot of younger players who play far less.

Evolution of Average Age in the NBA

As we can see in graph 1 the average age during the history of the NBA is relatively stable. Weighted by minutes, the average age was hovering around 27 years from 1952 until 1990.

From 1990 to 2000 the average age rose steadily and peaked at 28.3 years during the 98/99 season. The reason for this was a lot of experienced veterans playing heavy minutes as well as NBA teams drafting more experienced players and young players not receiving much playing time.

Lately, there is a big youth movement again in the NBA with average age dipping to an all-time low of 26.5 years. Young players around between 20 and 22 years receive more playing time than ever on rebuilding teams like OKC or Houston.

Average Age by Position

Gathering the data, I was curious if the average age of players is different depending on the position. Here’s what I found:

Graph 2: Average Age of NBA Players by Position:

All

PG

SG

SF

PF

C

See results by position:

All

PG

SG

SF

PF

C

We can see that for most of the history of the NBA there are no big differences between positions.

The one thing that clearly stands out, is the average age of centers from 1980-1992 which clearly exceeds all other positions during this time. If we take a closer look at this period we see some legendary centers like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Robert Parish and Moses Malone logging heavy minutes at the end of their very long careers.

Age Distribution Among NBA Players

To get a better idea of age among NBA player it makes sense to take a look at the actual age distribution.

Graph 3: Age Distribution of NBA Players by Year:

We can see that during the history of the NBA, the most common age among players is 23. The age responsible for most minutes played is a little older at 24.

In general, older players play more minutes than their younger counterparts. Which makes sense since only the best players still play in the NBA at more advanced age.

Average Age of Retirement in the NBA

Finding out the average retirement age of NBA players turned out to be more complicated than I expected. I don’t have a dataset of official retirements of NBA players (I don’t think a complete dataset like this exists).

Because of this, I filtered the dataset of all seasons ever played in the NBA to only include the last season by each player and calculated the average age during this season.

Graph 4: Average Age During Last Season of NBA Players:

The average age of NBA players retiring from 2010-20 was 27.8 years. At first, this number was surprisingly low to me. In fact, it’s only around one year older than the average age of NBA players during the same time frame.

Digging a little further, this makes a lot of sense because the data includes a lot of young players who couldn’t make it in the NBA and either ended their careers early or left the NBA to play in Europe, China or elsewhere.

To get a better idea when NBA players that “made it” retired, I filtered the dataset to only include players that lasted at least for 5 seasons, or averaged 10 (15, 20) points at least once during their career.

We can see that the better the player, the longer their careers last. While the average player during 2010-2020 “retired” at 28, hall of famers retired at 38!

Final Thoughts

You can clearly see that the NBA is a young man’s game! While there are some players who still perform at all star levels at 36 (Lebron James!), the most common age during the 21/22 season was 24.

If you are interested in any other specific statistics surrounding the age of NBA players let me know. I have all the data, I might be able to add it to the post!

The post Average Age of NBA Players from 1952-2022 appeared first on The Hoops Geek.

When we watch our favorite NCAA, NBA, and WNBA teams run beautiful offensive sets, it’s tempting to think we can install those with the youth basketball teams that we coach. However, with youth basketball, simple is often better. Your players likely do not understand the nuances of offense, reads, concepts, and third or fourth options on plays – yet.

Keeping it simple allows your players to focus on mastering fundamentals, grasping the basics of the game, and learn from the mistakes they make along the way.

How to Introduce First Plays for Youth Teams

When you are first introducing plays for younger athletes, one strategy to use is whole-part-whole.

First, show your team the entire play, explaining the basic concepts of whatever you are showing them. Then, start breaking the play down part-by-part – slowly. Finally, let them run it 5 on 0 before introducing the defense.

Sometimes, the best way for your team to understand the offense is to teach it in 5 on 5, stopping play in order to explain reads, reactions, and the play in general.

There’s a lot of debate in youth circles about what youth teams should be running on offense. Some believe youth players should just be taught motion offense without any real plays being called. Others believe the structure of plays help players understand the game better. A lot will depend on the skill level and basketball IQ of your team.

Easy Plays Against Man Defense