As a Chicago-based NBA analyst, I’ve studied this moment obsessively. In 1987, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was 39—older than most current stars are now—and still averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in the Finals. His 51% shooting? Not just legacy—they’re data that still challenge how we value aging superstars today. This isn’t nostalgia; it’s a blueprint for rethinking durability, role evolution, and what true efficiency looks like.