Milwaukee Bucks: Would Ray Allen Still Be Productive?

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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 /

Realistic Expectations

Unfortunately, from all the historical evidence across the history of the NBA it’s not wise to expect much of anything from Ray Allen in basketball terms going forward. Four of the greatest players ever were decent at best in their 40s, and only one of them was a guard.

Comparing anybody to John Stockton is a foolish venture, but Allen has some especially glaring faults comparatively. The most obvious and difficult one is the two years he’s taken off from NBA basketball.

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Stockton played in every possible game in 12 out of his last 13 NBA seasons, and did so in 17 of his 19 total NBA seasons. He was more used to the grind of an NBA season than anybody ever has been, and that experience and work ethic got him through a full season at age 40.

Allen did manage to play in 152 out of 164 games in his last two seasons with the Heat, but he’s been in 0 of the 164 regular season games since then. Stockton missed 22 games in his entire career.

Even if he’s still in relatively good shape, expecting a 41-year-old Ray Allen to be anywhere near effective next season just feels naive. The most durable guard ever had a good but not great season at age 40–no other guard has ever done anything notable at that age.

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If Allen can become the second guard to be productive in his 40s, then good for him. But the Milwaukee Bucks shouldn’t expect much of anything out of him if the team really does end up signing him.

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