George W. Bush was early in his first term as president. Seattle was years away from losing the SuperSonics. “Arrested Development” hadn’t even started airing yet.
That’s how long ago Utah’s Joe Johnson and Houston’s Nene made their NBA debuts.
So-called old guys like them are delivering all across these playoffs thus far. And many of those elder statesmen will be back at work Tuesday as the Western Conference playoffs continue with a trio of Game 5s – Houston will be home with a chance to eliminate Oklahoma City, Memphis goes back to San Antonio and Utah visits the Los Angeles Clippers.
Among those expected to be in action: 40-year-old Vince Carter, 39-year-olds Manu Ginobili and Paul Pierce, 37-year-old Jamal Crawford, 36-year-old Pau Gasol, 35-year-olds like Johnson, Zach Randolph and Boris Diaw, and 34-year-olds in Tony Parker and Nene.
“As you get older, as you get more experienced, you understand what ‘Winning Time’ means,” said Chicago’s Dwyane Wade, another non-whippersnapper of 35 who’ll play in a Game 5 of the Bulls-Boston series on Wednesday night.