Are these five Las Vegas athletes past their prime? Or do they still have enough in the tank to make a difference?
#4 Kyle Busch, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Las Vegas native Kyle Busch is arguably one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. He is also starting to show that he might be past his prime after two subpar years in the NASCAR Cup Series and a five-year absence from the championship four.
Busch is also without a win this season, which puts him in danger of losing his consecutive seasons with a victory streak. He’s currently at 19 successive season victories.
Busch’s last appearance in the championship four was in 2019, and he still missed out on winning the championship that year. It really looks like he might be at the end of his Cup Series career. His possibly moving on from RCR isn’t going to help anything, either. It might even make it more difficult for Busch to find a quality ride to compete in.
#3 Chelsea Grey, Las Vegas Aces guard
Time wears on us all, and the same is true for Las Vegas Aces superstar Chelsea Grey. The former Spark still racks up the accolades for her unbelievable talent, but it looks like her best days are behind her.
For example, she has only played an average of 24 minutes per game so far in 2024. That’s about an eight-minute drop from her 2023 championship season. Another interesting tidbit is her field goal percentage, which sits at about 39% from the field. Compare that to the 49% from the field she posted in 2023.
The final nail in the coffin is her 7.3 points her game so far in 2024. She hasn’t had a season without scoring ten points or more in seven years. That and her injury issues show that Grey isn’t exactly in her prime anymore.
#2 Adin Hill, Las Vegas Golden Knights goalie
Adin Hill is the best goalie the Las Vegas Golden Knights have had in a while and part of why they won the Stanley Cup in 2023. Despite his accomplishments in his short time in Las Vegas, he might just be in the twilight of his career. His stats, age, and injuries show a very unpromising future for the goalie.
Let’s first look at Hill’s championship season, where he posted a record of 16-7 as a starter for the Golden Knights. He also had 723 shots sent his way and a GAA of 2.50. This made him one of the best goalies in the league and was a big reason why Las Vegas entered the playoffs as the best in the West.
While we all know Hill and company went on to win the Stanley Cup, his performance next season was troubling. Not only did he suffer a lower-body injury and miss significant time, but he also lacked solid stats. He finished the season with a record of 19-12 as a starter, one of his worst to date.
Hill took an increase in shots sent his way in 2024 and didn’t handle it very well. He ended the year with a 2.71 GAA. It doesn’t look like he will last much longer in Las Vegas.
#1 Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders Quarterback
Gardner Minshew has much to prove with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, and the deck is somewhat stacked against him. The former Washington State Counger is entering his fifth year in the league with middling results. He posted a record of 6-6 in his inaugural season as a backup with the Jaguars, throwing 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Despite a strong showing as a backup in Jacksonville, he posted a 1-8 record in his sophomore season. Minshew did manage 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions that year, but it was overshadowed by everything else. This was his last year in Jacksonville before being picked up by the Eagles.
He only played four games during his two years there, posting a 1-3 record. It looked like his career was on the verge of being over. That’s when the Indianapolis Colts took a chance on him, leading to great results. He finished the season with a career-best record of 7-6 with 3305 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. The nine interceptions were a bit troubling, however.
Now he’s a member of the Raiders and has some of the best receivers in the league at his disposal. But Minshew has been very inconsistent with his starting record and touchdown to interception ratio.
He also has a lot to work against. This includes an inconsistent defense, a first-year coach in Antonio Pierce, and the stress of five seasons already on his body. There’s a reason why he only played in four NFL games in two years before going to the Colts. He’s past his glory days and is just a bridge quarterback at best.
