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Top 5 elder statesmen in 2015-16

Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports

While many young players approach the 2015-16 campaign with their entire careers ahead of them, other players are gearing up for what may be the final go-round of their professional journeys.

As newbies, like 18-year-old Devin Booker, begin the marathon on the starting blocks, geezers such as Andre Miller - the league's oldest player - near the finish line.

In the Association, being on the wrong side of 30 is considered old, with many players in their mid-thirties becoming eligible for their NBA senior citizens cards.

Here are the top five ballers - age 35 or over - entering next season as potentially productive contributors to their respective teams.

Honorable Mention: Kobe Bryant

This distinction is reserved for Kobe Bryant due to the fact that he has missed a significant amount of time over the past two seasons (41 games played in total).

The "Black Mamba" does not need to regain his All-Star caliber of play - nor should he be expected to at nearly 37 years old - however, if he can remain healthy enough to help the face-lifted Los Angeles Lakers put together a respectable season, it will make for one of the more heartwarming stories of 2015-16.

Andre Miller

As tempting as it is to slot Andre Miller's Minnesota Timberwolves teammate and co-mentor Kevin Garnett in here, there is no denying that the 39-year-old journeyman is a durable floor general still capable of facilitating an offensive system.

Miller has logged a mind-boggling number of seasons in which he missed less than five games - 14 of his 16 pro campaigns, to be exact - and has remained effective in recent years.

Ricky Rubio's new backup averaged 10.2 points and 8.2 assists (per 36 minutes) and 13.3 PER in 2014-15 - a season in which he split his time between the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings.

Vince Carter

The man once known as "Half Man-Half Amazing" has successfully carved out a second career for himself - essentially remodeling his game from aerial acrobat to wily, sharpshooting role-player.

While his 2014-15 minutes per game dipped into the teens for the first time in his 17-year career, Vince Carter still managed to play an integral part in the Memphis Grizzlies' 55-27 regular-season record last season.

Carter, who will be 40 by the end of 2016-17, when his current contract expires, will provide relief for the crowded Grizzlies perimeter rotation of Jeff Green, Tony Allen, Courtney Lee, and Matt Barnes.

Jason Terry

"The Jet" proved that he still has fuel in the tank last year, playing 20-plus minutes in 77 of the Houston Rockets' regular-season games.

More valuable than Jason Terry's seven points per game and 39 percent from beyond the arc is his ability to spell James Harden when the Rockets star goes to the bench - a challenge he conquered admirably throughout the 2015 playoffs.

Next season, Ty Lawson and a healthy Patrick Beverley will handle ball-distributing duties, freeing up Terry to let the rock fly alongside "The Beard," Trevor Ariza, and Marcus Thornton.

Paul Pierce

The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping they can handle "The Truth."

In fact, they're banking on getting a healthy dosage of truth next season, as they acquired Paul Pierce this offseason with the thought of him being their "closer."

The Inglewood, Calif., native will be 38 once the season tips off, and will bring championship experience and a wealth of knowledge, undoubtedly benefiting upstart Lance Stephenson, oft-inconsistent Wesley Johnson, and rookie Branden Dawson.

Pierce averaged 11.9 points, four rebounds, and shot 39 percent from three-point territory in 2014-15.

Tim Duncan

A common storyline over the past couple of years has been the impressive physical condition Tim Duncan has been able to achieve in spite of his advanced age.

The San Antonio Spurs icon - and five-time NBA champ - is the second-oldest player in the league, and will likely prove his worth, once again, to the revamped Popovich-led squad in 2015-16.

Don't let his 13.9 points per game (2014-15) fool you - he also chipped in 9.1 rebounds and two blocks - ranking him third in the entire league in overall defensive rating (96.9), behind only Andrew Bogut (96.8) and Kawhi Leonard (96.4).

The 18-year vet has never registered an end-of-season PER lower than 21.3 (15 PER is the league average), solidifying his invaluable on-court contributions year after year.

Expect more of the same next season, as he and the Spurs are already among the few teams favored to win the 2016 title.

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