The Los Angeles Clippers are officially the oldest team (33.2 years) in NBA history now, surpassing even the Stockton-and-Malone era Jazz. That is one of the many ripples of adding veterans like Chris Paul (40) and Bradley Beal (32) to their roster. Per the Clippers president, the front office tried to “add the best people possible,” because “37 is like 17” for Frank, and it’s not his fault that they happen to be veterans.

It’s not that the Clippers did not have a young team last season. Just two years older than the youngest and the reigning champions, the Thunder, their roster averaged just 27.3 years last year. But since Frank wanted to give HC Lue different tools and different personnel to experiment with, in order to add playmaking and shooting. HC Lue also wanted more movement in the half-court. Hence, the signing of Beal and Paul makes perfect sense for the Clippers.

However, despite the Clippers’ front office celebrating the veterans’ signing, NBA legends Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins did not sound too convinced about the rebuild.

In fact, when he heard Clippers President hyping up the team’s trade for Bradley Beal, Perk’s reaction was…well, gross: “Lawrence Frank did an interview and he was so happy about getting Bradley Beal… Almost threw up. Almost threw up.” He didn’t hold back at all, especially when talking about the lack of one thing he believes truly matters in today’s NBA—wings.

“You need wings. And I ain’t talking about Buffalo Wild Wings. I ain’t talking about from Wingstop. I’m talking about youth athleticism,” Perkins said, calling out the Clippers’ aging roster. He praised teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, and Houston Rockets for investing in young, athletic wing players. “The Rockets went loaded up. They got wings. They didn’t trade away none of their wings except for Dillon Brooks. But they two best defensive wings they kept. They kept Tari Eason. They kept Amen Thompson.” That’s the kind of build he believes wins in today’s league—not just IQ and veteran presence.

Perkins also pointed out the question marks around the Clippers’ current depth. He gave a nod to Derrick Jones Jr. for his defensive potential but remained skeptical. “I think he could defend his a– off at times, right? But he’s not known as elite defender,” he said. Even with respected veterans like Nic Batum and head coach Tyronn Lue on board, Perkins admitted, “I never want to question Tyronn, but I don’t know where he’s going to find minutes at for a kid like Dunn… I’m just looking at this Clippers team, and it’s too many question marks. It’s too many question marks.”

Now, adding Bradley Beal does bring some spark—he averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists, and shot 50% from the field last season with the Suns. And yes, he’s on a reasonable $11 million, two-year deal. But pairing him with aging stars like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden on a team already breaking records as the oldest in NBA history? That’s a lot of wear and tear to manage across an 82-game season. As it stands, the talent is there, but the durability, youth, and defensive depth? That’s what has everyone—from analysts to fans—raising eyebrows.

Too Old to Win? Richard Jefferson sounds the alarm on Clippers’ aging roster

Richard Jefferson didn’t hold back when talking about the 2025–26 Clippers. He had one clear warning: age is not just a number—it’s a risk. “I believe that this team could go Philly right last year or this team could go and win a championship,” he said. “That’s their spectrum… they could have injuries and be bad… and we also could see this team go and win a champion.” But then came the real punchline: “ They are closer to the age of receiving their pension than they are being drafted. And that’s the average age of their team.”

To understand Jefferson’s point, just look at the cautionary tale of last season’s Philadelphia 76ers. They were built to contend, stacked with top-tier talent, and yet they missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. The Sixers ended their season with a 23–51 record and were knocked out of playoff contention with eight games still to go. Injuries told the story. Joel Embiid and Paul George—who cost the franchise over $100 million—only played 19 and 41 games, respectively. Embiid battled everything from a foot sprain to a sinus fracture to ongoing knee issues, never looking like his MVP self. Meanwhile, George looked like a shadow of his prime. That’s exactly the type of collapse Jefferson warns could happen in LA.

Now apply that same lens to this Clippers team. This team is officially the oldest-ever roster, especially with the addition of 40-year-old Chris Paul to a core that already includes James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, and Brook Lopez—all 34 or older. While veterans like Paul and Batum may log fewer minutes, the success of this team still hinges on the health and consistency of players like Harden and Kawhi. Harden was a workhorse last season, and Kawhi’s long injury history is always looming. Younger pieces like Kris Dunn and Ivica Zubac help round out the depth chart, but the real test will be navigating an 82-game grind with stars whose best ability may no longer be availability.