Top 5 Best Seasons in NBA History for Perimeter Players Age 35 Plus
By Fern Rea
Jan. 28, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash against the Memphis Grizzlies at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Grizzlies 86-84. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
5. Steve Nash –Phoenix Suns – 2009-10 Season – Age: 36
16.5 points per game, 11.0 assists per game, 21.6 PER
Nash started the 2009-10 season at 35 years of age but showed little decline in his game. Nash led the league in assists and free throw percentage. Nash helped lead the Phoenix Suns to 54 wins, the 3rd seed in the West and reached the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the eventual Champions, the L.A. Lakers. This worked out being Amar’e Stoudemire last season with the Suns which coincided with this being the last year that Nash and the Suns were competitive; however, Nash’s production remained on par with his career numbers in the following 2 seasons before being traded to the Lakers.
Photo: ick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
4. Lenny Wilkins –Cleveland Cavaliers – 1972-73 Season – Age: 35
20.5 points per game, 8.4 assists per game
Hall of fame point guard Lenny Wilkins was traded to perennial door mats, Cleveland Cavaliers, just prior to the 1972-73 season. As the oldest starting point guard in the league Wilkins was magnificent. Wilkins achieved his 2nd highest scoring average and 4th highest assists average of his career. Wilkins was 2nd only to Tiny Archibald in assists per game and was named to his 9th and final All Star Game.
Wilkins experienced a sharp decline after this season and retired 2 seasons later.