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Milwaukee Bucks: Would Ray Allen Still Be Productive?

By Ti Windisch

Jun 25, 2015; Cromwell, CT, USA; NBA player Ray Allen walks the course in the first round at TPC River Highlands. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Cromwell, CT, USA; NBA player Ray Allen walks the course in the first round at TPC River Highlands. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; NBA retired player Karl Malone in the stands during the third quarter of a game between the LSU Tigers and Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. LSU won the game 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; NBA retired player Karl Malone in the stands during the third quarter of a game between the LSU Tigers and Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. LSU won the game 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Playing Time

If Allen does come through and sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, how many minutes per game could they expect to get out of the grizzled veteran? History suggests not too many.

Since 1946 there have only been 26 NBA seasons played by a player in their 40s. Just 17 players have even attempted to make it in the NBA in their 40s, including a 46-year-old named Nat Hickey who played two games and missed six shots before calling it quits back in 1947.

There have been only nine seasons where a 40-year-old played at least 50 games in NBA history. Only four players have averaged 20 minutes or more per game in their 40s–Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Stockton, Robert Parish and Karl Malone.

Malone is the only 40-year-old to ever play over 30 minutes per game for an entire season. Surprisingly, three players have actually played at least 80 games in a season in their 40s. Stockton, Kareem and Parish all pulled it off.

It seems like only true NBA legends have managed to play consistent minutes at such an advanced age. Ray Allen is certainly a Bucks legend, but is he as good as the only players who managed to stay effective after their 30s concluded? We’ll find out, if he does end up signing with the Milwaukee Bucks (or somebody else) before the 2016-17 season begins.

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