The Rockets may not have a Vince Carter or a Dirk Nowitzki driving up the average age of the team, but their roster is still the closest to meeting criteria for AARP discounts.

According to the NBA’s 2018-19 roster survey, the Rockets are the oldest team in the league, with an average player age of 28.6 years.

Youngsters like centers Isaiah Hartenstein (20), Marquese Chriss (21), and Zhou Qi (22) are typically found on NBA rosters, but in Houston’s case, they are not enough to offset the presence of seasoned veterans. The Rockets have five players above the age of 30, with a couple soon to join them.

Nene Hilario – 36

Carmelo Anthony – 34

Chris Paul – 33

P.J. Tucker – 33

Gerald Green – 32

James Harden – 29

Eric Gordon – 29

Primarily, this just means that the Rockets need to be careful with how they manage minutes to mitigate injury risk, something the organization is not oblivious to. For instance, youthful guards Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Knight were acquired during the offseason to play relief minutes at point guard, allowing optimized care for Paul’s somewhat injury-prone body.

But the advanced age of the Rockets is not solely some disadvantage to be monitored with a watchful eye; it’s also an asset, especially in the postseason.

With age comes acumen. Houston boasts the greatest amount of NBA experience per player of any team.

So, while the usual wear and tear that occurs over the course of 82 games may require extra attentiveness, the team is primed to make the most of its battle-worn background—as long as it can keep up with younger squads.

This season, age is of concern but is not strictly a negative factor for Houston’s title odds. It will, however, be increasingly important season-to-season, as some of the team’s key components advance into and through their twilight years.