Items16The creator’s order
  1. 1Michael JordanMichael JordanBorn 17 Feb 1963Jordan came back from baseball in 1995 without quite the same lift, so he built his second three-peat around a post-up fadeaway from the mid-post, backing down guards and shooting over them. He still won three titles and three Finals MVPs from 1996 to 1998, in his thirties. That fadeaway, copied by…0i
  2. 2Jason KiddJason KiddBorn 23 Mar 1973Kidd entered the NBA as a poor outside shooter and finished as a spot-up three-point threat, making far more threes in his late thirties than in his prime. That change let him play alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry on Dallas's 2011 champions as a 38-year-old starter who still ran the offence…0i
  3. 3Grant HillGrant HillRepeated ankle surgeries took away the explosive all-rounder Hill had been in Detroit. In Phoenix in his late thirties he remade himself as a mid-range shooter and defensive specialist, often guarding the opponent's best wing, and played until he was 40. His Phoenix years are a model of accepting a…0i
  4. 4Vince CarterVince CarterToronto knew Vince Carter as the most spectacular dunker in the world. He ended up playing a record 22 NBA seasons by turning into a bench three-point shooter and locker-room veteran in Dallas, Memphis, Sacramento and Atlanta, retiring at 43 in 2020. The change from Air Canada to a role-playing…0i
  5. 5Tim DuncanTim DuncanBorn 25 Apr 1976Duncan's late-career change was subtle: fewer post-ups, more high-post passing and pick-and-roll defence in Gregg Popovich's ball-movement system. In 2014, at 38, he anchored the Spurs' fifth title, the side famous for its passing. He accepted lower minutes and scoring to stay effective, a template…0i
  6. 6Dwyane WadeDwyane WadeBorn 17 Jan 1982Wade's knees forced him to move from slashing star to bench scorer. After returning to Miami in 2018, he came off the bench for his final season and was named an All-Star by special selection, using pump fakes, post-ups and a craftier mid-range game. His last year is a lesson in finding efficient…0i
  7. 7Marc GasolMarc GasolBorn 29 Jan 1985Gasol was a back-to-the-basket centre and Defensive Player of the Year in Memphis who added a three-point shot in his thirties. Traded to Toronto in 2019, he spaced the floor, passed from the top of the key and defended Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Raptors' title run. Raptors…0i
  8. 8Brook LopezBrook LopezLopez attempted 31 three-pointers in his first eight seasons combined. Then, in his late twenties, he became a high-volume three-point shooter and a drop-coverage rim protector, and that version anchored Milwaukee's 2021 title and earned All-Defensive selections. Splash Mountain is the purest…0i
  9. 9Al HorfordAl HorfordBorn 3 Jun 1986Horford began as a mid-range power forward in Atlanta and, in his thirties, became a stretch big who shot threes at good volume and switched onto smaller players. He accepted a bench role in Boston and, at 38, won the 2024 title as a key contributor, one of the oldest players to play big minutes…0i
  10. 10Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo AnthonyBorn 29 May 1984After a failed stint in Houston nearly ended his career in 2018, Carmelo Anthony accepted a bench role in Portland and later with the Lakers, shooting catch-and-shoot threes rather than isolating. He climbed into the top ten of the NBA's career scoring list during those years. His comeback shows a…0i