Gail Goodrich 28
Jerry West 33
Jim McMillian 23
Wilt Chamberlain 35
Happy Hairston 29
Elgin Baylor 37
Flynn Robinson 30
Pat Riley 26
John Trapp 26
Keith Erickson 27
Leroy Ellis 31
Jim Cleamons 22The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers won a then-record 69 regular season games on their way to an NBA Championship. The average age of the 12 players on their roster was 29. By comparison, the average age of the Boston Celtics roster as presently constituted (with Nate Robinson, Michael Finley, Marcus Landry) is 29.2. The comparison isn't entirely legitimate, however. Elgin Baylor retired 7 games into the 1971-72 season. If we focus our attention instead on the starting unit of the two teams, the average age of the Lakers' starters was 29.8, while the Celtics' starters average age is 30. Again, not much of a difference.Something to think about as the playoffs inch closer.
4 comments:
Let's not forget the '69 Celtics. They were written off because they were too old. They came in without home court in any series and yet somehow when the playoffs come around, age can turn into experience and wisdom.
I wonder what their average age was?
Average age was 30 and that included the 2 rookies on the team that season. The team was led by 36 year old Sam Jones and 35 year old Bill Russell. That team was also plagued by injuries all year including a stint in the hospital for Bill Russell.
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