at what age do you TRULY SEE a player declining?

[dada]

I would put the physical decline at mid to late twenties (maybe 24-28. Why? I look at a player like Kobe (I'll use him cuz thats the first person who pooped up) or even Vince and when they reached that age they didnt have nearly as much hops or quickness as they were when they were younger. Of course they get smarter with experience, figuring out easier ways to score the ball with less effort and cuz the decline isnt that much it isnt very noticeable. It stay stagnant for about 6-10 years then it becomes very obvious when they begin to break down.

The reason I brought in Kobe is cuz I was watching highlights last night and saw him go up for a dunk and he barely looked like he made it up there compared to the half court dunks he used to do back in the days. Even Vince doesnt get up there like he used to.

Again I say the decline isnt very drastic but a decline nonetheless. I realize how low my age range is but I still somewhat agree with myself.

[GloveGuy]

There's too many factors that come into play.

One is how well you take care of your body. How injury prone you are. Jordan's only major injury came in his second year. It seems as if guys like Iverson, Kobe, Vince, McGrady, and Shaq are always out for long and short periods every year.

It also depends on what type of basketball you played during your prime. John Stockton's game never relied on athleticism or speed. The guy retired at 41, still starting for the Jazz, still doing the pick-and-roll thing with Malone.

Speaking of Malone, his two MVPs came in the later stages of his career.

In the end, it's all about how you adapt to the changes. Jordan is the prime example in this. He was still the best player in basketball before his second retirement.

Finally, it's about the intangibles. That's why the current Gary Payton is valuable to any team. His experience, leadership, and reputation keep him on the court. It's what kept Stockton on the court into his 40s. It's what allowed Jordan to average 20 points per game with the Wizards. The things that make a player great aren't supposed to be things they'll lose with age.

[maes]

I'm not so sure...A guy like Brent Barry who hides his ass in the corner pocket three isn't going to get banged up like Fred Jones. This is related to role. A three point specialist isn't going to go and try to dunk on anybody.

That's true, Barry became what he is now partly because of how he played in his first few years, which was a lot like Fred Jones. He would either slash for a dunk or pull up for a 3, and not much in between. Hard to believe Barry is a Slam Dunk champion who could dunk consistently from the free throw line...even Jordan needed 2 attempts to land that one.

A lot of a player's decline is due to the toughness of his body. Playing once a week in college in nothing compared to the schedule of the NBA, and the NBA games are faster paced, longer, more physical and you have zero recovery time as you're on a plane to the next game already.

If the NBA had a schedule more like college, i bet guys like Penny Hardwaway would have a much bigger impact.

[cyanide]

Players can never lose their skill, ever. If I haven't played basketball in a year after playing non-stop for 7 years, guaranteed I'll be rusty when I hit the hardwood, I'll be slower, and a step behind, but in terms of skill as in shooting, passing, defensive and offensive awareness, that does not go away. Players over age only decline in quickness, but never lose skill.

[Andrew]

Hard to believe Barry is a Slam Dunk champion who could dunk consistently from the free throw line...even Jordan needed 2 attempts to land that one.

True for the final dunk in the 1988 contest, but he made it on the first attempt in 1985, 1987 and the second round in 1988.

[kinokong]

Players over age only decline in quickness, but never lose skill.

... quickness is a skill for some players