3 other memorable performances from players over 40
"Age ain't nothing but a number."
Vince Carter's impressive 24-point outburst Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers basically came out of nowhere, as the 40-year-old wing had yet to hit double digits in scoring with the Sacramento Kings all season.
It's rare for players of his age to be playing at all, let alone scoring to that degree. Then again, it's not the first time a 40-year-old has gone off on the stat sheet, and it likely won't be the last.
Here are three other performances from past elder statesmen that blew our minds:
Michael Jordan, Washington Wizards (Feb. 21, 2003)
| MIN | PTS | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 43 | 18/30 | 0/0 | 7/8 |
| RBS | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Most basketball fans choose to ignore the fact that arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport came out of retirement for a second time to suit up for a team that wasn't the Chicago Bulls, where he had established his legendary status.
Jordan's two-year stint in the nation's capital wasn't in the same stratosphere of what he accomplished in the Windy City, but it certainly wasn't devoid of classic moments from His Airness, either.
His 43-point showcase against the New Jersey Nets remains the most ever dropped by a 40-year-old talent. It was vintage Jordan, with the mid-range assassin burying home jumper after jumper over the outstretched arms of much younger defenders.
John Stockton, Utah Jazz (April 13, 2002)
| MIN | PTS | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 26 | 7/11 | 0/0 | 12/12 |
| RBS | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Stockton remained in prime physical condition until his final days with the Jazz organization. He suited up for all 82 games from 1999 through 2002, never averaging fewer than 27.7 minutes of action.
His nine assists and four steals - two categories in which he remains the Association's all-time leader - against the Golden State Warriors were further proof Stockton hadn't lost his edge. Future All-Star Gilbert Arenas was outperformed by the savvy vet, who schooled the rookie in the art of facilitating and defending like he had so many others.
It was Stockton's finest work of the campaign, ending with a season-high game score of 32 that was 6.6 points better than all of his other lines.
Karl Malone, Los Angeles Lakers (April 25, 2004)
| MIN | PTS | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 30 | 11/17 | 0/0 | 8/11 |
| RBS | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
"The Mailman," like Jordan, is also someone we would love to rewrite the history books for as it pertains to his one year donning purple and gold.
Malone wasn't just ring-chasing with the Lakers, as he was still able to contribute at a high level 19 years into his Hall-of-Fame career. It wasn't the Stockton-to-Malone show anymore like it was in Salt Lake City, though, as Malone (the NBA's second all-time leading scorer) was fourth in the pecking order on a roster featuring Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Gary Payton.
Only Robert Parish (15) has grabbed more rebounds in a game at 40 than Malone did against the Houston Rockets in the 2004 playoffs. Malone's 30 points are also the most scored in the playoffs by someone at his age not named Abdul-Jabbar.