Ranking the 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old

The 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old — 1. Michael Jordan, 1997-98 (35)

His Airness, Mike, Air Jordan, The GOAT, Michael Jordan himself would top many lists of NBA historical accolades. He has won the most Finals MVP awards, is the greatest guard of all time and probably would win a poll of the greatest player of all time, even if there is a worthy debate between he and LeBron James. Yet again, Jordan tops another list, this time for the greatest season by a player 35 years or older in NBA history.

The 1997-98 season was one of titans, with four different teams winning at least 60 games. That included the Chicago Bulls, tied with the Utah Jazz at 62 to lead the league. Those two teams would meet in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year come June. Prior to that, Jordan turned 35 in the midst of one of the greatest seasons of his career.

After earning the MVP award the year before and losing to Karl Malone likely on the back of voter fatigue, Jordan came out of the gates and showed the league he wanted his trophy back. He once again led the league in scoring at 28.7 points per game, also topping the league in usage percentage. Even with the team around him in a state of flux for much of the year — see the documentary The Last Dance for more — he willed his team to the best record.

Interestingly enough, Karl Malone finished ahead of Jordan in many advanced metrics such as win shares and box plus/minus, albeit barely. Yet Jordan easily eclipsed the value of Malone of anyone else in the league by willing the Bulls through the postseason. On the last play of his Bulls career, he sized up Byron Russell and hit one of the most famous shots in the history of the league.

At 35, Jordan dominated a league that still recognized him as the greatest, that still worshipped him as the greatest to ever play. They were in awe of him even as they tried to beat him. Yet again, for the sixth time, no one could when it mattered. Despite all that came after, the second retirement and the empty calorie scoring in Washington, this season was Jordan truly going out on top.

It is fitting that Michael Jordan reigns supreme on this list as well, with the greatest season by a player 35 years or older. He is joined by so many of the greatest players in NBA history, perhaps as many as six or seven of the ten best players of all time. Competing against every team in the league as well as Father Time is a tall task, but some players did it and created greatness in the process.