As fantasy basketball managers gear up for the 2024-25 NBA season, I have been debating the place to rank and draft the outdated guys. After I say outdated, I am speaking about gamers who shall be over the basketball hill —not less than 35 years outdated — earlier than the top of the 2025 common season. A few of these legends proceed to increase their primes whereas othes are both getting older like high-quality boxed wine or in decline.
Let’s dive into how I method these elder statesmen in drafts this season.
Actual rap, he is one of many best athletes ever. He was essentially the most impactful participant for Workforce USA on the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it seems to be like he may play for an additional 5 seasons regardless of turning 40 later this yr and being the oldest participant within the NBA.
I’ve some sturdiness considerations given his age, however James had his healthiest season in over three years, enjoying 71 video games final yr. The manufacturing’s at all times been constant — financial institution him for not less than 25-7-7 with a field-goal proportion north of fifty% and a few threes and a steal per sport. I would not be mad in case you’re a LeBron stan and wish to take him within the second spherical however an early third spherical choose balances the chance and reward completely.
The NBA’s trendy mercenary turned an damage danger over the previous decade, the place he sustained a Jones fracture throughout 2014-2015 that set off a number of accidents thereafter, most notably a torn Achilles in 2020. Following the Achilles tear, Durant did not play over 55 video games in a season. That was till final yr, when he performed 75 video games, clearly returning to type as a top-10 participant in fantasy. Like James, the Slim Reaper was bounced early from the 2024 playoffs however performed an influential function in Workforce USA capturing gold in Paris.
Durant shall be 36 in September and goes within the backend of the primary spherical of most mock drafts this offseason. I will seemingly go on him there due to (what appears to be) persistent soft-tissue points, however that might simply develop into a remorse. He is some of the prolific and environment friendly scorers ever. And he will get shares too.
The child-faced murderer has a beard now and sure some grays after carrying Workforce USA to gold and the Warriors all yr lengthy. I’ve Curry ranked as a late-first in class codecs as a result of he’s elite in three classes — factors, threes and free throw proportion. Factors leagues, he is extra of a third-rounder.
Curry’ll flip 37 in March, and I be ok with his prospects to remain wholesome, contemplating he is performed in not less than 63 video games in 11 of his 15 seasons within the league. So in brief, I would run it again for an additional yr with the seemingly ageless future Corridor-of-Famer.
The celebs aligned nicely for Harden this offseason. Paul George went to Philly, and if the Olympics point out what’s to come back for Kawhi Leonard this yr, Harden may very well be in for a large workload. The soon-to-be 35-year-old is certainly one of solely a handful of gamers able to main the league in assists, and his means to contribute throughout classes places him proper consistent with a second-round grade. His scoring fell off a cliff final yr because the third wheel to PG and Kawhi, so I would anticipate some constructive regression there. His 16 ppg was his lowest since successful Sixth Man of the Yr in 2015-2016.
Heavy minutes may result in damage, however hopefully, Ty Lue and the workers have a plan to maintain Harden motivated and wholesome.
Butler turns 35 in September and his sketchy contract state of affairs is way from very best. Additionally, within the common season, Jimmy is not Playoff Jimmy. I’ve handed over him in each offseason mock as a result of I do not know what to anticipate from him or the state of affairs at hand. He must receives a commission, and till he does, I would be extra tempted to draft him if he falls past the fourth.
DeRozan’s conventional 20-5-5 seemingly goes to a 20-4-4 enjoying in such a loaded Sacramento beginning unit. Everybody has downgraded a smidge since his arrival, however I would be extra enthusiastic about deciding on DeRozan within the fifth/sixth spherical of drafts. I do not love him although.
I do not know why Draymond feels older than he’s, however he’ll be turning 35 in March. I am high-quality drafting him for his rebounding and assists. He additionally seems to be to be again to making an attempt greater than a few threes per sport. The factor is, Draymond is clearly weighing the dangers of getting suspended for some on-the-court antics. Final yr was an outlier, so I would purchase the dip contemplating what he does exterior of scoring.
I really like that CP3 selected to play with San Antonio this season. The purpose god may’ve gone ring chasing to some extent, however teaming up with Wemby, a future star of this league, is a dope strategy to shut out his profession. Phrase on the road is that he selected the Spurs as a result of he’ll begin. And at draft value, Paul is shaping as much as be a sleeper within the mid-to-late rounds of drafts.
The scoring is probably going sapped however averaging a low-end double-double cannot be dominated out if he is enjoying 30+ minutes an evening. CP3 might not final by means of the season, however he is nonetheless a productive fantasy participant regardless of how he was utilized by the Warriors final season. Do not attain, however scoop him in case you missed out on assists earlier within the draft.
Splash Mountain shall be 37 in April, and I anticipate to see some decline right here. Is Lopez nonetheless price drafting in fantasy? Sure. Nevertheless it’ll actually simply be for the blocks and threes. He does not get sufficient quantity on this offense and he cannot clog the paint with Giannis. I would go on Lopez if youthful choices can be found within the mid-rounds.
As the purpose guard of among the best groups within the Western Convention, Conley typically will get missed in drafts due to his age — he’ll be 37 in October. However like Paul, he is an inexpensive supply for assists within the mid-to-late rounds. The Wolves drafted Robert Dillingham within the first spherical as Conley’s substitute, so simply be aware that the following man up is not far behind.
Outdated man Al is 38 and extra fantasy-relevant than many would anticipate heading into the season. Kristaps Porziņģis has no agency return date, so Horford will seemingly step in because the beginning heart as soon as the season is underway. The Celtics have 13 back-to-backs (B2B) on the schedule (beneath league common), and belief — Horford shall be lacking not less than certainly one of each B2B. Nonetheless, he is price a flier late for his threes and shares.
New group, similar Russ. It is unclear if he’ll begin, however the peripherals at this stage in his profession left him exterior the highest 120 and he isn’t somebody I would be enthusiastic about drafting. If extra info comes out about his function, I may see a bump as a late-rounder in factors codecs.
I just like the touchdown spot, however Klay’s fantasy worth lies in his three-point taking pictures. For those who want a lift, go for it. I simply do not see a lot room for Klay to contribute in different classes as a result of a lot of Dallas’ offense flows by means of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.