How the best NBA players of all time fared in their final seasons
How the best NBA players of all time fared in their final seasons.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem capped off his 20-year career in 1988-89 averaging 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. He shot 48 percent from the field.
Charles Barkley
The Round Mound of Rebound played 16 seasons in the NBA, finishing his career with four years in Houston. He played only 20 games during his final season in 1999-00, averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Elgin Baylor
Baylor's final season was 1971-72. He played only nine games before retiring due to knee issues. He had 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during that much-abbreviated season.
Larry Bird
Bird played only 45 games in 1991-92, averaging 20.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He shot 41 percent from three in his final season. Bird played for the Dream Team in the 1992 Summer Olympics before officially announcing his retirement.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe struggled for an awful Lakers team this season, coming off two injury-plagued seasons to average 17.6 points per game. His final game will be remembered forever, scoring 60 points while playing more than 42 minutes.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt played all 82 games in his final season in 1972-73, scoring 13.2 points with 18.6 rebounds per game. He led the league in rebounds in his final season at age 36 while playing for the Lakers.
Clyde Drexler
Drexler finished his career with the Rockets in 1997-98. He averaged 18.4 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Julius Erving
Dr. J played 60 games in 1986-87, averaging 16.8 points per game. His 76ers were ousted in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Bucks.
Patrick Ewing
Ewing finished his career on the bench in Orlando averaging only 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The Magic lost in the first round of the playoffs.
John Havlicek
Havlicek spent his entire career with the Celtics, retiring following the 1977-78 season. He averaged 16.1 points for a team that went 32-50.
Magic Johnson
Magic's final season was a Cinderella story, returning five seasons after retiring due to his HIV diagnosis to play 32 games for the Lakers in 1995-96. He had plenty left at age 36, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Michael Jordan
Jordan finished his career with a two-year comeback on the Wizards after three years off. He wasn't the same at age 39 but still averaged 20.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Jason Kidd
Kidd finished his career with one season on the Knicks in 2012-13. He started 48 of 76 games played, averaging only 6.0 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Karl Malone
The Mailman played only 42 games in his final season in 2003-04, playing one year with the Lakers after 18 years in Utah. He averaged 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Moses Malone
Malone finished his career with one season on the Spurs. He played only 17 games, scoring just 2.9 points per games while averaging 8.8 minutes.
Steve Nash
Nash finished his career with the Lakers and retired after playing only 15 games in 2013-14 due to injuries. He had only 6.8 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq played his final season in Boston, starting 36 of 37 games. He had 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in his injury-plagued season.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Olajuwon finished his career with one season in Toronto after 17 seasons playing for the Rockets. He had 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in 61 games during the 2001-02 season.
Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan's sidekick finished his career in Chicago after five seasons playing for other teams. He played only 23 games in an injury-riddled season, averaging 5.9 points.
Oscar Robertson
Robertson played for Milwaukee over his final four seasons, averaging 12.7 points and 6.4 assists during his final year in 1973-74.
David Robinson
The Admiral's play had slipped by 2002-03, but he went out on top with an NBA championship. Over 64 games, Robinson averaged 8.5 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Bill Russell
The greatest winner ever averaged 9.9 points and 19.3 rebounds in his final season at age 34 in 1968-69. Of course, his Celtics finished with an NBA championship.
John Stockton
Stockton had plenty left in his age 40 season in 2002-03, with 10.8 points and 7.7 assists per game. He started all 82 games.
Isiah Thomas
Zeke finished his career in 1993-94, playing only 58 games. He averaged 14.8 points and 6.9 assists per game at age 32, ending his career due to injuries.
Jerry West
West played only 31 games in his final season in 1973-74, averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 assists.
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