The NBA has more veterans rostered than ever before

Over the previous few years, a well-liked speaking level amongst individuals across the NBA has been that the league is missing in veteran gamers, the leaders of yesteryear like Nick Collison or Udonis Haslem, who caught round for therefore lengthy as a result of their locker-room management and veteran voices moreso than for his or her basketball talents.

Basketball Corridor-of-Famer Kevin Garnett defined in 2021 why he believes having veterans on rosters is essential (via the New York Times):

In your guide, you write — and I do know I sound dorky utilizing your terminology — that “they [the league] don’t need the OGs across the rooks. As a result of they know the OGs will faculty ’em within the extra treacherous and devious methods of the league.” What precisely are the treacherous methods of the league? Garnett: What I meant was, with regards to off-the-court stuff and coping with household and funds and the life-style of the league, you want veterans. Veterans sit round throughout dinners and aircraft rides and discuss individuals who have come earlier than you: gamers that fought for midlevel exceptions and Hen rights. The franchise isn’t going to show the gamers this. The gamers are exchanging the knowledge you should go up towards a machine just like the league.

Former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin additionally mentioned the dearth of veterans within the NBA proper now being an issue, particularly because it pertains to his son, KJ Martin, a younger participant within the league proper now. The elder Martin bought a terrific first-hand glimpse of what not having vets round can do to young players:

For those who’re studying dangerous behaviors early, you’re going to have dangerous behaviors and in the event you bought optimistic individuals round, that’s what it’s going to be. And KJ’s… I converse to him coming in, he’s going into his fourth 12 months and the individuals which can be round him, like guys with the Clippers, the youthful guys who’re nonetheless older than him – they suppose they’re his age. They bought a few 26, 27-year-olds and due to how he carries himself, as a result of he had me, he had me there to say to him ‘no, that ain’t it canine’, ‘don’t do this’ and so forth. And that’s what it’s, it’s being a vet, seeing man’s behaviors like ‘okay, that’s good, yeah you retain doing that’. Reward him when he’s doing good, telling him ‘you retain that up’ or if he on some BS you pull him to the facet like ‘no that ain’t going to rock round right here’. Like, ‘you should change this, you should do that totally different, that’s the best way we’re round right here.’ And the NBA could be quite a bit higher in the event you had extra of that occurring a few of these groups, however they don’t need the influences of veterans round telling guys the true factor as a result of they wish to affect their thought course of.

Martin stated that he himself had to offer veteran management to younger Rockets gamers regardless of his having been out of the NBA since 2014-15:

So I’m sitting round with them dudes, I’m going to observe them on the street, we within the resort foyer and I’m speaking to those dudes and every thing that I’m saying is prefer it’s the phrase to them, as a result of they ain’t heard none of this sh*t earlier than. They’re all locked in like ‘give me extra OG’. like ‘speak to me’ like’ what would you do on this, how would you deal with this’… They ain’t heard none of this sh*t.

So, it’s clear that present and former NBA gamers imagine the league has an issue proper now with its lack of veterans on rosters.

However, statistically, is that true?

Our analysis signifies that it isn’t, as we discovered that in 2024-25, the NBA set a file for many gamers with 15-plus years of NBA expertise being on an NBA roster on the identical time, with a whopping 20 such gamers. The earlier excessive mark for a single season was 16 such gamers on rosters… which was set final season in 2023-24.

In fact, that doesn’t negate what gamers like Harden and Martin have been saying. Simply because the NBA has essentially the most gamers ever with 15-plus years of expertise on rosters proper now, that doesn’t imply they’re all there to concentrate on being leaders. It’s extra like, be it as a result of fashionable drugs and restoration strategies or no matter else, extra elite gamers are taking part in till they’ve 15-plus years within the league.

Simply have a look at among the names who qualify for the 15-plus-year-in-the-NBA membership proper now: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Harden, in addition to DeMar DeRozan, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Jrue Vacation.

We will guarantee you that these guys aren’t being saved on rosters simply to mentor youthful gamers. Most of these gamers stay elite or very, superb at worst, and their main focus is to play at a star – or great-backup – stage, to not speak to youthful gamers throughout video games to level out their errors.

So, as is the case with many issues in life, it appears that evidently two issues may be true directly right here: The NBA would possibly lack veteran management on a wide range of groups proper now. Nonetheless, in the event you stay taking part in at a excessive stage, you’ll nonetheless end up on an NBA roster. It’s not like older gamers are being shunned from the NBA, which is what some pundits and former gamers make it sound like when discussing the subject.

Regardless, under, try all the seasons in NBA historical past that had a minimum of one participant with 15-plus years of NBA expertise. Notice: If a 12 months isn’t listed under, that implies that that season had zero such gamers.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Kevin Durant, James Harden, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Jrue Vacation, Mike Conley, Al Horford, Eric Gordon, Nicolas Batum, DeAndre Jordan, Kyle Lowry, Jeff Inexperienced, Kevin Love, Patrick Mills, Taj Gibson, James Johnson

Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Al Horford, Brook Lopez, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Eric Gordon, JaVale McGee, Jeff Inexperienced, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, LeBron James, Mike Conley, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, Russell Westbrook, Thaddeus Younger

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Al Horford, Andre Iguodala, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, LeBron James, Mike Conley, Rudy Homosexual, Thaddeus Younger, Udonis Haslem

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Andre Iguodala, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, CJ Miles, Dwight Howard, Joe Johnson, Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge, LeBron James, Louis Williams, Paul Millsap, Rajon Rondo, Rudy Homosexual, Trevor Ariza, Udonis Haslem

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Andre Iguodala, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Louis Williams, Trevor Ariza, Udonis Haslem

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Andre Iguodala, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Jamal Crawford, JR Smith, Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Trevor Ariza, Tyson Chandler, Udonis Haslem, Vince Carter

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Jamal Crawford, Kyle Korver, LeBron James, Nenê, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Tyson Chandler, Udonis Haslem, Vince Carter, Zaza Pachulia

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Dirk Nowitzki, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Joe Johnson, Manu Ginobili, Nenê, Pau Gasol, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Tyson Chandler, Vince Carter, Zach Randolph

Photograph by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Dirk Nowitzki, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Joe Johnson, Metta World Peace, Mike Miller, Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Tyson Chandler, Vince Carter, Zach Randolph

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Andre Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Model, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Mike Miller, Nazr Mohammed, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Andre Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Model, Jason Terry, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Nazr Mohammed, Paul Pierce, Shawn Marion, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter

Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Al Harrington, Antawn Jamison, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, Dirk Nowitzki, Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Nazr Mohammed, Paul Pierce, Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Jermaine O’Neal, Jerry Stackhouse, Juwan Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Kurt Thomas, Marcus Camby, Rasheed Wallace, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Ben Wallace, Derek Fisher, Erick Dampier, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Jermaine O’Neal, Jerry Stackhouse, Juwan Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Kurt Thomas, Marcus Camby, Ray Allen, Steve Nash

Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Jerry Stackhouse, Joe Smith, Juwan Howard, Kevin Garnett, Kurt Thomas, Shaquille O’Neal, Theo Ratliff

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Jason Kidd, Juwan Howard, Lindsey Hunter, Shaquille O’Neal

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Dikembe Mutombo, Lindsey Hunter, Shaquille O’Neal

Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Dikembe Mutombo, Robert Horry, Shaquille O’Neal

Photograph by Doug Benc/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Clifford Robinson, Dale Davis, Dikembe Mutombo, Gary Payton, Kevin Willis

Photograph by Jim McIsaac/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Clifford Robinson, Gary Payton

Photograph by Elsa/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Clifford Robinson, Kevin Willis, Reggie Miller, Rod Strickland, Vlade Divac

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Avery Johnson, Charles Oakley, Horace Grant, Karl Malone, Kevin Willis, Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Rod Strickland, Scottie Pippen

Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Charles Oakley, Chris Dudley, Horace Grant, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Kevin Willis, Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen

JAMES NIELSEN/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Charles Oakley, Dell Curry, Hakeem Olajuwon, John Stockton, Johnny Newman, Karl Malone, Kevin Willis, Patrick Ewing, Terry Porter

Ronald Martinez/Allsport

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: A.C. Inexperienced, Charles Oakley, Chris Mullin, Detlef Schrempf, Hakeem Olajuwon, Jerome Kersey, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Kevin Willis, Otis Thorpe, Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Terry Porter, Tyrone Corbin

GEORGE FREY/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Antoine Carr, Charles Barkley, Dale Ellis, Hakeem Olajuwon, Jerome Kersey, John Stockton, Mark West, Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins, Terry Cummings

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Dale Ellis, Danny Schayes, Derek Harper, Eddie Johnson, Herb Williams, Mark West, Rick Mahorn, Terry Cummings

Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Photos

Gamers with 15-plus years of expertise: Alton Lister, Buck Williams, Danny Schayes, Eddie Johnson, Herb Williams, Rick Mahorn, Ricky Pierce, Terry Cummings, Tom Chambers