There’s an old saying: If you want to win the NBA championship, you need experience. Well, here are the teams who claimed the Larry O’Brien trophy having the oldest cores running the show.
(To select each team’s core, we went with the three players who had the biggest statistical output during their championship runs in the playoffs).
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Top three playoff performers: Dirk Nowitzki (33.0 years old upon winning the title), Jason Terry (33.7), Jason Kidd (38.2)
Anne Ryan-USA TODAY
Top three playoff performers: Michael Jordan (34.3), Scottie Pippen (31.7), Ron Harper (33.4)
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Top three playoff performers: Michael Jordan (33.3), Scottie Pippen (30.7), Dennis Rodman (35.1)
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Top three playoff performers: Wilt Chamberlain (35.8), Jerry West (34.0), Gail Goodrich (29.1)
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Top three playoff performers: Michael Jordan (35.3), Scottie Pippen (32.7), Toni Kukoc (29.7)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Top three playoff performers: LeBron James (35.4), Anthony Davis (27.2), Rajon Rondo (34.3)
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Top three playoff performers: John Havlicek (29.2), Bill Russell (35.3), Bailey Howell (32.4)
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Top three playoff performers: Kevin Garnett (32.1), Paul Pierce (30.7), Ray Allen (32.9)
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Top three playoff performers: Elvin Hayes (32.6), Wes Unseld (32.2), Bob Dandridge (30.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Magic Johnson (27.8), James Worthy (26.3), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (40.2)
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Top three playoff performers: Bill Russell (34.3), John Havlicek (28.2), Bailey Howell (31.4)
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Top three playoff performers: Stephen Curry (34.2), Andrew Wiggins (27.3), Klay Thompson (32.3)
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Top three playoff performers: Tim Duncan (38.1), Kawhi Leonard (22.9), Tony Parker (32.1)
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Top three playoff performers: Kobe Bryant (31.8), Pau Gasol (29.9), Lamar Odom (30.6)
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Top three playoff performers: Walt Frazier (28.2), Dave DeBusschere (32.6), Willis Reed (31.0)
Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK
Top three playoff performers: Bill Russell (32.3), John Havlicek (26.2), Sam Jones (33.0)
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Top three playoff performers: Tim Duncan (23.1), David Robinson (33.8), Avery Johnson (34.2)
Top three playoff performers: Bill Russell (30.3), Sam Jones (31.0), Tommy Heinsohn (29.8)
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Top three playoff performers: Hakeem Olajuwon (32.4), Clyde Drexler (33.0), Robert Horry (24.8)
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Top three playoff performers: Dave Cowens (27.6), Jo Jo White (29.6), Paul Silas (32.9)
