Ranking the 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old
John Havlicek. 17. player. 18. . SF. Boston Celtics
The 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old — 17. John Havlicek, 1974-75 (35)
The 1974-75 Boston Celtics are the team in the middle, sandwiched between two Celtics title teams in 1974 and 1976. In that comparative irony, we often find in sports, this was the year of the three that the Celtics had the best regular season, winning 60 games to finish tied for the league’s best record. They had the league’s third-best offense and third-best defense, a balanced and dangerous team.
John Havlicek, the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer, was the heart and soul of a team in the midst of a mini-run of contention. He led this team in scoring as well, averaging 38.2 minutes per game and playing in all 82 contests at the age of 35. He was a do-everything wing who linked together the team’s other players, including lockdown guard Jo Jo White and bruising center Dave Cowens.
Havlicek’s play earned him another All-Star selection that season, one of 13 in his career, but also an All-NBA finish at season’s end. He made an All-NBA team 11 times in his 16-year career, despite coming off the bench to start on the loaded Bill Russell dynasty teams.
For one last time, Havlicek summoned that elite level of play in the postseason. He dropped in 21.1 points per game as the Celtics returned to the Eastern Conference Finals, the tenth time (of 11 total) Havlicek would make it to that round in his career. The Celtics fell short of the NBA Finals, losing in six to Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and the Washington Bullets.