Ray Allen, Dime #11

But what about next year? How will some of these old-timers play? Will the fall off? Do they have one year left in them? I did some research and tried to match the players up with guys from the past who are most comparable. The one thing about all of these players that separates them from the others? They’ve had no major injuries. Nicks here and there, but nothing really major, just the type of injuries you would expect from players who are nearly 15 years in the league.

Kobe Bryant: 33 years old (as of next season), 48,000+ minutes, 14 seasons
Dirk Nowitzki: 33 years old, 41,000+ minutes, 12 seasons
Steve Nash: 37 years old, 38,000+ minutes, 14 seasons
Paul Pierce: 34 years old (as of next season), 40,000+ minutes, 12 seasons
Ray Allen: 36 years old, 45,000+ minutes, 14 seasons

I took one comparison and tried to match up the minutes played. For example, Bryant has amassed 48,000 minutes. MJ didn’t reach that number until his final season in a Wizards’ uniform, so that’s the season I will be comparing to…

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Ray Allen (2010-2011)- per 36 minutes: 16.5 ppg…3.4 rpg…2.7 apg…1.0 spg…49, 44 & 88 percentages
Reggie Miller (2002-2003)- per 36 minutes: 15.0 ppg…2.9 rpg…2.9 apg…1.1 spg…44, 36 & 90 percentages
It’s pretty obvious which way Allen is going. His numbers have been dropping every season since he came to Boston (with the slight exception of 2009, when KG was hurt). But if Miller is the blueprint, Allen should be fine. In Miller two final seasons after 2002-03, he saw his production drop (predictably) before rising back to nearly 17, 3 & 2.5 (per 36) in his final season at 39 years old. This might be because that happened to be the year Artest missed because of his suspension and the entire organization was in flux.

Still Allen should have at least two more years of the production he’s giving now considering he’s younger and probably an even better shooter than Miller ever was. With his numbers slightly down, but his shooting percentage is higher than it’s ever been, it’s obvious what’s happening with Jesus: he’s getting less shots, but the ones he IS getting are great looks.

Kobe Bryant (2010-2011)- per 36 minutes: 26.9 ppg…5.4 rpg…5.0 apg…1.3 spg…45, 32 & 83 percentages
Michael Jordan (2002-2003)- per 36 minutes: 19.5 ppg…5.9 rpg…3.7 apg…1.5 spg…45, 29 & 82 percentages
This is a tough comparison. Jordan was 39, turning 40, and retired after the season so Kobe is entering territory that not many perimeter players have ever gone to. The amazing thing about Bryant’s year last season was while his averages were down, so were his minutes. Per 36 minutes, he actually averaged the third-highest point total of his career (that’s either a good thing or a bad thing if you’re a Laker fan). Still, he fell off in the playoffs.

Actually, maybe a better comparison for Kobe is John Havlicek (53,000+ career minutes). The season he crossed Bryant’s minute barrier (48,000), Havlicek averaged (per 36) 17.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.9 apg with 45/82 percentages at 36 years old. The following season, his last, those numbers dropped slightly to 17, 4 & 4 with 45/86 percentages. That doesn’t tell us a whole lot besides Bryant’s numbers will probably drop slightly. Really, there is no way to tell what will happen with Kobe. He’s in uncharted waters to a degree for similar off guards. He could play one more great year and fall off or maybe slide into retirement. Who knows?