In sports circles, it’s a delicate balancing act: Age and experience vs. youth. Teams want experience, but what happens when that experience just gets old? The Milwaukee Bucks had one of the most experienced teams in the league this past season.
Of the 17 players listed on the roster at the end of the season, 11 had seven or more years in the league; six had four or fewer. Six of those players (Brook Lopez, Goran Dragic, Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews, Khris Middleton, and Jae Crowder) each had 10 or more seasons in the NBA.
This stat shows why the Milwaukee Bucks desperately need to get younger
Along with experience comes age. The Bucks had 21 players score points for the team last season, and 12 of them were in their age-30 (or older) season, per Stathead (Subscription required). Eight Bucks’ players scored 400 or more points in 2022-23, with four being in their 30’s and four being under 30.
Of the 30 NBA teams last season, the Bucks were second in the league with the most points scored by players age 30+. The Bucks tallied 4,486 points by players in their 30s, 46.8 percent of their 9,589 points in the campaign. The Los Angeles Clippers topped the list with 5,762 points scored by their players in their 30s.
Most points in 2022-23 by players in their 30’s
Here is a look at the number of points scored by each NBA team last season by players in their age-30 (or older) season.
5,762-L.A. Clippers
4,486-Milwaukee
4,197-Golden State
3,716-Chicago
3,707-Brooklyn
3,434-Dallas
3,174-New Orleans
2,961-Miami
2,872-Utah
2,705-L.A. Lakers
2,670-Phoenix
2,595-Philadelphia
2,535-Detroit
2,151-Indiana
1,927-Portland
1,904-Boston
1,531-Minnesota
1,418-Charlotte
1,277-Sacramento
1,067-Toronto
1,039-Washington
882-Atlanta
871-Denver
839-Cleveland
775-San Antonio
717-Houston
351-Orlando
317-New York
265-Oklahoma City
9-Memphis
As mentioned above, the Bucks did have 12 players in their age-30 (or older) season. That was the most in the league. The 12: Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, Joe Ingles, Wesley Matthews, George Hill, Jae Crowder, Serge Ibaka, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Meyers Leonard, and Goran Dragic. The Mavs had 11 players age-30 score for them last season and the Clippers were next with 11 players in their age-30 season.
Portland’s Damian Lillard topped the stats last year with the most points scored by a player in his 30s. He had 1,866 points at age 32. He was followed by DeMar DeRozan (1,816-age 33), Steph Curry (1,648-age 34), and Kyrie Irving (1,623-age 30). Jrue Holiday ranked 13th; most points scored by a Bucks player in his 30’s.
With an aging roster, finding youth will be a key factor for the Bucks moving forward.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.