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Many people believe that an average basketball player, especially in the NBA, peaks just before 30 years of age. But when one continues to dominate even after his 30th birthday, he must be a very special talent.
Playing in the NBA requires a ridiculous amount of stamina and fitness, something that becomes more difficult to achieve when one's supposed physical prime is beyond him.
However, basketball is as much a mental game as it is physical. The older a player gets, the wiser he becomes, and at the end of the day, there is no substitute for experience.
There have been many examples of players in the past who have ruled over the rest of the NBA despite being in their 30s. Of course, the prime example in this regard is Michael Jordan.
Players like Jordan and Karl Malone were so ruthless even in their mid-30s that they won multiple MVPs. Needless to say, great players have a history of performing even when they aren't as agile and sharp as they were in their 20s.
Also Read: Miami Heat's Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro could replace the Splash brothers as the best shooting duo in the NBA.
Ten top active NBA players over the age of 30
Even today, there are a handful of incredible players aged 30 or above in the NBA who are still among the cream of the crop. On that note, let's take a look at the top ten active players in the league aged 30 or above.
#10 Paul George (LA Clippers)
Paul George is one of the best two-way players in the NBA right now. After enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in 2018-19 where he found his name in MVP talks, George followed that up with another decent campaign in 2019-20. He has averaged an impressive tally of 20 points per game in each of his past five years in the NBA.
However, his dip in form come the playoffs is a cause for concern, otherwise he would surely have finished higher in this list.
#9 Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Chris Paul well and truly redeemed himself with the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) this season. His value in the NBA may have come under serious questioning of late, but he proved once again why he is one of the greatest point-guards of all time.
Paul led a young OKC side to the playoffs despite many NBA analysts giving the team little to no chance of doing so. It'll be interesting to find out where his next destination could be.
#8 Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets)
Russell Westbrook might not have averaged a triple-double for the fourth straight NBA season, but he still put up solid numbers in a franchise where he wasn't the first scoring option.
Westbrook averaged over 27 points per game on a career-high efficiency of 47.2% although his prowess from the three-point range dipped to a new low. Still, Russell Westbrook remains one of the best players in the NBA, as was proven by his All-NBA third team selection this season.
#7 Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
It has been quite some time since we saw Klay Thompson pull up consecutively from deep.
The three-time NBA champion with Golden State Warriors (GSW) decided to sit out the entirety of the 2019-20 season to recover from an injury he picked up in the 2019 NBA finals.
Klay Thompson, one of the greatest shooters of all time, is also one of the best two-way players in the NBA. He has never shot below 40% from downtown for a single season in his illustrious career so far.
#6 Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
Jimmy Butler is proving in the ongoing NBA playoffs why he is greater than numbers could ever begin to portray him.
The impact that Butler can have on a team is something statistics cannot possibly accurately represent. One simply has to witness it with one's own eyes.
Jimmy Butler is a winning basketball player and has a very vast skillset. He can act as a playmaker and take on scoring duties; he is also a fabulous defender, besides being one of the best leaders in the NBA.
If the Miami Heat could somehow win the NBA title this season, it will be the utlimate feather in Butler's cap.
#5 Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
Damian Lillard enjoyed the best season of his career, averaging 30 points and eight assists per game while shooting a career-high 40% from the three-point range.
Lillard was often unstoppable this season as he nailed threes from unfathomable distances. He also became just the second player ever to have three or more games with 60+ points after the great Wilt Chamberlain.
Damian Lillard is arguably the best point-guard in the NBA right now, and Stephen Curry will have to reclaim his crown once he returns to action.
#4 James Harden (Houston Rockets)
Although James Harden did not quite average over 35 points per game this NBA season, he still managed a ridiculous 34 as he won his third-straight scoring champion title.
James Harden is one of the greatest scorers of all time, and some of the numbers he puts up regularly would be laughed at if they weren't actually happening.
Harden was named an All-Star for the eighth time in his career this season while he also made the All-NBA first team.
#3 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Stephen Curry, quite simply put, is one of the greatest point-guards of all time. When it comes to shooting, he most definitely ranks number one among anyone to have ever done it.
Curry injured himself at the start of the NBA season, which forced him to miss almost the entire campaign. With his Golden State Warriors team finishing bottom of the NBA as a consequence, Curry will be tasked with lifting them straight back to the top in 2020-21.
At 32, Curry is the highest-paid player in the league and will continue to be so next season.
#2 Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
Yet another player on this list who missed the 2019-20 NBA season due to injury is Kevin Durant who will have it all to prove with a new franchise and new teammates next season.
After leaving the Golden State Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets, the responsibility to win his new franchise their first NBA championship will fall squarely on Durant's shoulders. It will be interesting to see how he would respond.
The 32-year-old is one of the most efficient scorers the game of basketball has ever seen. It will be fun to watch him play again after a long wait.
#1 LeBron James (LA Lakers)
For the 16th season in a row, LeBron James was named an All-Star and an All-NBA member.
King James continues to rack up the numbers and smash records even at the age of 35. He is one of the best examples of the adage 'age is just a number'.
James is a man on a mission right now as he aims to win his fourth NBA championship after leading the LA Lakers deep into the playoffs.
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: The dream starting-5 for the New York Knicks going into the 2020-21 season.
