The 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old — 22. Karl Malone, 2002-03 (39)
Karl Malone entered the league in 1985, the 13th pick in a draft that also produced Patrick Ewing, Joe Dumars, Chris Mullin and Terry Porter. Among Malone’s fellow draftees only Charles Oakley made it as far into his career as the 2002-3 season when the 39-year-old Oakley contributed 1.8 points per game in 42 appearances, or 74 total points.
In his age-39 season, Malone poured in 20.6 points per game, eclipsing Oakley’s total in four games. He played 36.2 minutes per game across 81 total appearances, a true display of his exceptional conditioning and endurance. He led a Utah Jazz team that, along with 40-year-old point guard John Stockton (incredibly backed up by a 37-year-old Mark Jackson) fought its way to 47 wins and a playoff berth.
Malone was a machine, churning out points and rebounds against much younger competition. His efficiency had begun to erode over the previous season, but he still put up a 109 offensive rating. His 6.9 offensive win shares were 19th in the league, and he finished tied for tenth in total win shares. The ten other players in the top 10 were all at least nine years younger than Malone, including a 23-year old Tracy McGrady.
Despite his age, Malone shows up in all of the pertinent leader boards for traditional and advanced statistics, volume, and rate stats. He was one of the league’s best 10-15 players even though many of the league’s stars were still wetting the bed when he made his NBA debut. The following year “The Mailman” would finally start delivering in a new zip code, joining the Los Angeles Lakers to seek a title after his wingman Stockton retired.