Clippers' Current Roster Might Be The Oldest Squad In The NBA

The Los Angeles Clippers will be heading into the 2025-26 season with one of the most formidable rosters in the NBA. With their latest offseason signings, the Clippers have added a potent blend of depth and talent to an already capable squad.

Given the roster adjustments made by other Western Conference contenders, particularly the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers have done a solid job keeping pace, if not outright outperforming them. 

With capable players in each position, L.A. will look to be a contender in the West. However, the only concern that emerges with this roster is its age. Aside from John Collins, most of the Clippers’ additions this offseason are either in the twilight of their careers or approaching it. 

With an aging superstar core of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden already in place, the roster’s overall age raises valid concerns about its durability across an 82-game season.

To examine this, we take a look at the Clippers' roster and the ages of the players who will be a part of the team's rotation next season.

Clippers Roster Distribution By Age

1. Chris Paul - 40 years old

2. Brook Lopez - 37 years old

3. Nicolas Batum - 36 years old

4. James Harden - 35 years old

5. Kawhi Leonard - 34 years old

6. Bogdan Bogdanovic - 32 years old

7. Bradley Beal - 32 years old

8. Kris Dunn - 31 years old

9. Ivica Zubac - 29 years old

10. John Collins - 28 years old

11. Derrick Jones Jr. - 28 years old

12. Kobe Brown - 26 years old

13. Yanic Konan Niederhauser - 22 years old

14. Cam Christie - 20 years old

Are The Clippers Too Old?

When looking at L.A.'s roster, it is really difficult to overlook the age distribution of their core rotation players. With an average age of 30.7, the Clippers may very realistically be one of the oldest teams in the league as well.

With the acquisition of Chris Paul, the Clippers added a formidable veteran point guard to their team. At 40 years old, Paul remains a capable player on the field, but this also impacts the squad's overall look. 

But considering that he isn't expected to play significant minutes, acting as a substitute for Harden's playmaking, Paul's age may not be as much of a factor in a limited minutes situation.

Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum, and James Harden are also over 35 years old, each. While Lopez and Batum are expected to provide support off the bench only, Harden is a key player in the team's starting rotation.

Harden played the fifth-most minutes of any player in the league last season. Preserving him for the playoffs will be essential in keeping the Clippers' title aspirations alive. 

Along with Harden, even Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is entering the latter stages of his career. While 34 isn't considered "old" in the modern era, Leonard has been riddled with injuries for the better part of the last few seasons. This raises concerns about his ability to remain healthy and available for the duration of the season.

In terms of age, Bradley Beal is on the cusp. While he may be past his prime, he’s still far from being considered "aged". 

Criticisms about his performance from last season paint a significantly worse picture about what he brings to the table. If allowed to do what he does best, Beal could still be a contributor in their efforts.

Though the veterans skew the roster’s age upward, the remainder of the Clippers’ core is firmly in its physical prime.

With Kris Dunn, Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr., and John Collins all being in their late 20s to early 30s, the Clippers also feature talented veterans with the potential to develop further.

Although the aspect of age can be notched down as a concern, the Clippers still have a formidable roster. The sheer veteran experience, paired with championship pedigree, gives this team the necessary tools to hold their own against the best teams in the league.

As with most contenders, L.A.’s biggest concern will be staying healthy. Although they aren't necessarily a top-heavy team, the sheer competitiveness of the Western Conference could see the Clippers spiral out of control if the quality of their performance drops. 

In this regard, monitoring the veterans' minutes will be essential for head coach Tyronn Lue.