Are Bulls & Thunder Old Enough To Become Champs?
Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images
I get as excited as anyone when I see great young teams like the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder rise to the top of the NBA standings, with a cast of young characters leading the way.
But the inevitable question I always find myself asking, Are they experienced enough to win the NBA Finals come June?
After all, we know the old teams always seem to win the championships.
The Mavs, Lakers, Celtics and Spurs of recent seasons all fielded veteran teams that knocked off the young upstarts whenever they squared off in playoff competition.
In the post-Jordan era alone, the average age of the past 13 NBA championship teams is 29.27 when you place weights on playoff playing time.
Measure that against the average age (playing-time weighted) today of 27.28 and you see how important experience is. There hasn't been one NBA champion under that age range in the post-Jordan era--from the 1999 lockout champion Spurs to the 2011 NBA champion Mavs.
Which brings us to the 2011-12 Bulls and Thunder teams.
Both squads are talented and have great futures.
Both are leading their conferences in the regular season so far--the Thunder are 16-3 and leading the West, while the Bulls are 17-4 and leading the East.
But is there any recent precedent that shows these teams are old enough to win an NBA championship?
Well, in the case of Chicago, yes, there is.
The Bulls average age (playing-time weighted) is 27.78, which makes them strikingly similar to the 2009 Lakers (27.37), 2004 Pistons (27.65) and 2003 Spurs (27.73).
Granted, these were the three youngest teams in the post-Jordan era to win championships, but the fact remains that three teams hovering just above the league average still got the job done.
The experience Chicago picked up from last season will surely help them at playoff time. Last year's Bulls you'll recall had the NBA's best record (62-20), but came up short in the Eastern Conference Finals to the more-experienced Miami Heat squad.
The Bulls average age last season was 26.53; the Heat's was 28.00.
Add in a year of experience for everybody. Toss in a 33-year-old Rip Hamilton into the mix to play 30-plus minutes per game. And you see how this new Chicago team may now be old enough to go all the way now.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City's immediate future doesn't look as promising as Chicago's, if you go by the numbers.
The Thunder has an average age (playing-time weighted) this season of 25.12 ... and that is even after I remove 24-year-old Eric Maynor's age figures from the equation, since he was lost to a season-ending injury.
As fun as the Thunder's youth is, NBA champions simply have never been that young in league history. I mean, where else--besides college basketball--does a 23 year old, another 23 year old and a 22 year old lead a team to a title?
Can it be done? I guess it's possible ... Has it been done? No.
Using history as a guide--where NBA championship teams range from 27.37 to 32.03 years of age--you'd have to think the Thunder are at least two years away from growing into their role as champions.
Compare the Bulls' and Thunder's rosters to the playoff rosters of the past 13 NBA champions, found at the bottom of this page ... And if you want to see where your favorite team ranks on the 2011-12 NBA age list, Hoopism ran a cool graphic recently on that very subject at this link here.
2011-12 CHICAGO BULLS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 27.78
Luol Deng, 26+ 689 minutes, 18 games, 38.3 mpg
Carlos Boozer, 30 603 minutes, 20 games, 30.2 mpg
Derrick Rose, 23 555 minutes, 15 games, 37.0 mpg
Joakim Noah, 26+ 522 minutes, 19 games, 27.5 mpg
Ronnie Brewer, 26+ 499 minutes, 20 games, 25.0 mpg
Kyle Korver, 30+ 397 minutes, 20 games, 19.9 mpg
Omer Asik, 25 353 minutes, 20 games, 17.7 mpg
Taj Gibson, 26+ 329 minutes, 17 games, 19.4 mpg
Richard Hamilton, 33+ 305 minutes, 10 games, 30.5 mpg
C.J. Watson, 27+ 216 minutes, 11 games, 19.6 mpg
John Lucas, 29 192 minutes, 13 games, 14.8 mpg
Brian Scalabrine, 33+ 73 minutes, 12 games, 6.1 mpg
Jimmy Butler, 22 41 minutes, 12 games, 4.1 mpg
Mike James, 36+ 25 minutes, 3 games, 8.3 mpg
2011-12 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 25.12
Kevin Durant, 23 655 minutes, 18 games, 36.4 mpg
Russell Westbrook, 23 600 minutes, 18 games, 33.3 mpg
James Harden, 22 527 minutes, 18 games, 29.3 mpg
Kendrick Perkins, 27 487 minutes, 18 games, 27.1 mpg
Serge Ibaka, 22 452 minutes, 18 games, 25.1 mpg
Thabo Sefolosha, 27+ 365 minutes, 17 games, 21.5 mpg
Nick Collison, 31 356 minutes, 18 games, 19.8 mpg
Daequan Cook, 24+ 253 minutes, 17 games, 14.9 mpg
Nazr Mohammed, 34 237 minutes, 18 games, 13.2 mpg
Reggie Jackson, 21+ 141 minutes, 12 games, 11.8 mpg
Eric Maynor*, 24+ 137 minutes, 9 games, 15.2 mpg
Lazar Hayward, 25 50 minutes, 8 games, 6.3 mpg
Cole Aldrich, 23 41 minutes, 7 games, 6.3 mpg
Royal Ivey, 30 20 minutes, 3 games, 6.7 mpg
Key ... + indicates that player will have a birthday between now and June 26--the last possible date of the 2012 NBA Finals; * numbers were removed from all tabulations since Maynor was lost to a season-ending injury.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
2011 DALLAS MAVERICKS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 32.03
Dirk Nowitzki, 32 826 minutes, 21 games, 39.3 mpg
Jason Kidd, 38 744 minutes, 21 games, 35.4 mpg
Shawn Marion, 33 690 minutes, 21 games, 32.9 mpg
Jason Terry, 33 684 minutes, 21 games, 32.6 mpg
Tyson Chandler, 28 680 minutes, 21 games, 32.4 mpg
Jose Barea, 26 390 minutes, 21 games, 18.6 mpg
Peja Stojakovic, 34 350 minutes, 19 games, 18.4 mpg
DeShawn Stevenson, 30 332 minutes, 21 games, 15.8 mpg
Brendan Haywood, 31 275 minutes, 18 games, 15.3 mpg
Brian Cardinal, 34 37 minutes, 9 games, 4.1 mpg
Ian Mahinmi, 24 33 minutes, 6 games, 5.5 mpg
Corey Brewer, 24 23 minutes, 6 games, 3.8 mpg
2010 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 29.05
Kobe Bryant, 31 923 minutes, 23 games, 40.1 mpg
Pau Gasol, 29 913 minutes, 23 games, 39.7 mpg
Metta World Peace, 30 839 minutes, 23 games, 36.5 mpg
Derek Fisher, 35 754 minutes, 23 games, 32.8 mpg
Lamar Odom, 30 667 minutes, 23 games, 29.0 mpg
Andrew Bynum, 22 561 minutes, 23 games, 24.4 mpg
Shannon Brown, 24 324 minutes, 23 games, 14.1 mpg
Jordan Farmar, 23 301 minutes, 23 games, 13.1 mpg
Luke Walton, 30 96 minutes, 16 games, 6.0 mpg
Sasha Vujacic, 26 76 minutes, 10 games, 7.6 mpg
Josh Powell, 27 40 minutes, 13 games, 3.1 mpg
Adam Morrison, 25 13 minutes, 2 games, 6.5 mpg
D.J. Mbenga, 29 12 minutes, 3 games, 4.0 mpg
2009 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 27.37
Kobe Bryant, 30 940 minutes, 23 games, 40.9 mpg
Pau Gasol, 28 931 minutes, 23 games, 40.5 mpg
Lamar Odom, 29 735 minutes, 23 games, 32.0 mpg
Trevor Ariza, 23 722 minutes, 23 games, 31.4 mpg
Derek Fisher, 34 635 minutes, 22 games, 28.9 mpg
Andrew Bynum, 21 400 minutes, 23 games, 17.4 mpg
Luke Walton, 29 332 minutes, 21 games, 15.8 mpg
Shannon Brown, 23 276 minutes, 21 games, 13.1 mpg
Jordan Farmar, 22 260 minutes, 20 games, 13.0 mpg
Sasha Vujacic, 25 250 minutes, 23 games, 10.9 mpg
Josh Powell, 26 73 minutes, 14 games, 5.2 mpg
D.J. Mbenga, 28 16 minutes, 7 games, 2.3 mpg
2008 BOSTON CELTICS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 29.25
Paul Pierce, 30 990 minutes, 26 games, 38.1 mpg
Kevin Garnett, 32 987 minutes, 26 games, 38.0 mpg
Ray Allen, 32 987 minutes, 26 games, 38.0 mpg
Rajon Rondo, 22 831 minutes, 26 games, 32.0 mpg
Kendrick Perkins, 23 631 minutes, 25 games, 25.2 mpg
James Posey, 31 573 minutes, 26 games, 22.0 mpg
P.J. Brown, 38 341 minutes, 25 games, 13.6 mpg
Leon Powe, 24 270 minutes, 23 games, 11.7 mpg
Sam Cassell, 38 264 minutes, 21 games, 12.6 mpg
Eddie House, 30 165 minutes, 21 games, 7.9 mpg
Glen Davis, 22 137 minutes, 17 games, 8.1 mpg
Tony Allen, 26 65 minutes, 15 games, 4.3 mpg
2007 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 31.40
Tony Parker, 25 751 minutes, 20 games, 37.6 mpg
Tim Duncan, 31 736 minutes, 20 games, 36.8 mpg
Bruce Bowen, 36 689 minutes, 20 games, 34.5 mpg
Manu Ginobili, 29 602 minutes, 20 games, 30.1 mpg
Michael Finley, 33 538 minutes, 20 games, 26.9 mpg
Fabricio Oberto, 32 415 minutes, 20 games, 20.8 mpg
Robert Horry, 36 361 minutes, 18 games, 20.1 mpg
Francisco Elson, 31 230 minutes, 20 games, 11.5 mpg
Brent Barry, 35 225 minutes, 19 games, 11.8 mpg
Jacque Vaughn, 32 208 minutes, 20 games, 10.4 mpg
Matt Bonner, 27 25 minutes, 9 games, 2.8 mpg
Beno Udrih, 24 20 minutes, 8 games, 2.5 mpg
2006 MIAMI HEAT
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 29.75
Dwyane Wade, 24 959 minutes, 23 games, 41.7 mpg
Antoine Walker, 29 862 minutes, 23 games, 37.5 mpg
Shaquille ONeal, 34 759 minutes, 23 games, 33.0 mpg
Jason Williams, 30 686 minutes, 23 games, 29.8 mpg
Udonis Haslem, 26 650 minutes, 22 games, 29.5 mpg
James Posey, 29 607 minutes, 22 games, 27.6 mpg
Gary Payton, 37 560 minutes, 23 games, 24.3 mpg
Alonzo Mourning, 36 226 minutes, 21 games, 10.8 mpg
Shandon Anderson, 32 90 minutes, 13 games, 6.9 mpg
Michael Doleac, 29 72 minutes, 8 games, 9.0 mpg
Derek Anderson, 31 66 minutes, 8 games, 8.3 mpg
Wayne Simien, 23 7 minutes, 2 games, 3.5 mpg
Jason Kapono, 25 2 minutes, 1 games, 2.0 mpg
2005 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 29.06
Tim Duncan, 29 869 minutes, 23 games, 37.8 mpg
Tony Parker, 23 858 minutes, 23 games, 37.3 mpg
Bruce Bowen, 34 814 minutes, 23 games, 35.4 mpg
Manu Ginobili, 27 772 minutes, 23 games, 33.6 mpg
Robert Horry, 34 618 minutes, 23 games, 26.9 mpg
Brent Barry, 33 555 minutes, 23 games, 24.1 mpg
Nazr Mohammed, 27 528 minutes, 23 games, 23.0 mpg
Beno Udrih, 22 241 minutes, 21 games, 11.5 mpg
Rasho Nesterovic, 29 114 minutes, 15 games, 7.6 mpg
Glenn Robinson, 32 113 minutes, 13 games, 8.7 mpg
Devin Brown, 26 60 minutes, 12 games, 5.0 mpg
Tony Massenburg, 37 28 minutes, 9 games, 3.1 mpg
2004 DETROIT PISTONS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 27.65
Richard Hamilton, 26 924 minutes, 23 games, 40.2 mpg
Ben Wallace, 29 924 minutes, 23 games, 40.2 mpg
Chauncey Billups, 27 881 minutes, 23 games, 38.3 mpg
Rasheed Wallace, 29 804 minutes, 23 games, 35.0 mpg
Tayshaun Prince, 24 795 minutes, 23 games, 34.6 mpg
Corliss Williamson, 30 327 minutes, 22 games, 14.9 mpg
Lindsey Hunter, 33 273 minutes, 23 games, 11.9 mpg
Mehmet Okur, 25 252 minutes, 22 games, 11.5 mpg
Mike James, 28 195 minutes, 22 games, 8.9 mpg
Elden Campbell, 35 124 minutes, 14 games, 8.9 mpg
Darvin Ham, 30 107 minutes, 21 games, 5.1 mpg
Darko Milicic, 18 14 minutes, 8 games, 1.8 mpg
2003 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 27.73
Tim Duncan, 27 1021 minutes, 24 games, 42.5 mpg
Tony Parker, 21 814 minutes, 24 games, 33.9 mpg
Stephen Jackson, 25 811 minutes, 24 games, 33.8 mpg
Bruce Bowen, 32 750 minutes, 24 games, 31.3 mpg
Manu Ginobili, 25 660 minutes, 24 games, 27.5 mpg
Malik Rose, 28 560 minutes, 24 games, 23.3 mpg
David Robinson, 37 539 minutes, 23 games, 23.4 mpg
Speedy Claxton, 25 326 minutes, 24 games, 13.6 mpg
Danny Ferry, 36 101 minutes, 16 games, 6.3 mpg
Kevin Willis, 40 91 minutes, 18 games, 5.1 mpg
Steve Smith, 34 66 minutes, 9 games, 7.3 mpg
Steve Kerr, 37 46 minutes, 10 games, 4.6 mpg
2002 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 28.41
Kobe Bryant, 23 833 minutes, 19 games, 43.8 mpg
Shaquille ONeal, 30 776 minutes, 19 games, 40.8 mpg
Robert Horry, 31 703 minutes, 19 games, 37.0 mpg
Rick Fox, 32 652 minutes, 19 games, 34.3 mpg
Derek Fisher, 27 649 minutes, 19 games, 34.2 mpg
Devean George, 24 327 minutes, 19 games, 17.2 mpg
Samaki Walker, 26 240 minutes, 19 games, 12.6 mpg
Brian Shaw, 36 238 minutes, 19 games, 12.5 mpg
Lindsey Hunter, 31 132 minutes, 18 games, 7.3 mpg
Slava Medvedenko, 23 21 minutes, 7 games, 3.0 mpg
Mark Madsen, 26 10 minutes, 7 games, 1.4 mpg
Mitch Richmond, 36 4 minutes, 2 games, 2.0 mpg
2001 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 28.63
Kobe Bryant, 22 694 minutes, 16 games, 43.4 mpg
Shaquille ONeal, 29 676 minutes, 16 games, 42.3 mpg
Derek Fisher, 26 576 minutes, 16 games, 36.0 mpg
Rick Fox, 31 573 minutes, 16 games, 35.8 mpg
Horace Grant, 35 423 minutes, 16 games, 26.4 mpg
Robert Horry, 30 382 minutes, 16 games, 23.9 mpg
Brian Shaw, 35 290 minutes, 16 games, 18.1 mpg
Tyronn Lue, 24 131 minutes, 15 games, 8.7 mpg
Mark Madsen, 25 48 minutes, 13 games, 3.7 mpg
Ron Harper, 37 42 minutes, 6 games, 7.0 mpg
Devean George, 23 27 minutes, 7 games, 3.9 mpg
Greg Foster, 32 3 minutes, 1 games, 3.0 mpg
2000 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 29.69
Shaquille ONeal, 28 1000 minutes, 23 games, 43.5 mpg
Kobe Bryant, 21 857 minutes, 22 games, 39.0 mpg
Glen Rice, 33 766 minutes, 23 games, 33.3 mpg
Ron Harper, 36 643 minutes, 23 games, 28.0 mpg
Robert Horry, 29 618 minutes, 23 games, 26.9 mpg
A.C. Green, 36 429 minutes, 23 games, 18.7 mpg
Brian Shaw, 34 408 minutes, 22 games, 18.5 mpg
Rick Fox, 30 331 minutes, 23 games, 14.4 mpg
Derek Fisher, 25 322 minutes, 21 games, 15.3 mpg
John Salley, 36 78 minutes, 18 games, 4.3 mpg
Travis Knight, 25 48 minutes, 14 games, 3.4 mpg
Devean George, 22 45 minutes, 9 games, 5.0 mpg
1999 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Average Age (Playing-Time Weighted): 30.60
Tim Duncan, 23 733 minutes, 17 games, 43.1 mpg
Avery Johnson, 34 653 minutes, 17 games, 38.4 mpg
David Robinson, 33 600 minutes, 17 games, 35.3 mpg
Sean Elliott, 31 574 minutes, 17 games, 33.8 mpg
Mario Elie, 35 526 minutes, 17 games, 30.9 mpg
Jaren Jackson, 31 345 minutes, 17 games, 20.3 mpg
Malik Rose, 24 194 minutes, 17 games, 11.4 mpg
Jerome Kersey, 36 152 minutes, 14 games, 10.9 mpg
Antonio Daniels, 24 106 minutes, 15 games, 7.1 mpg
Steve Kerr, 33 97 minutes, 11 games, 8.8 mpg
Will Perdue, 33 86 minutes, 12 games, 7.2 mpg
Gerard King, 26 14 minutes, 8 games, 1.8 mpg