Mink, 75, aims to be oldest pro hoops player

Everyone’s favorite senior citizen basketball player is trying to make more history. That’s right, Ken Mink is still at it.

Mink, who became the oldest college basketball player two years ago when he played at Roane State (Tenn.), has signed a deal to be a player/coach during a pro/am tournament in Charleston, W.Va., according to a story in the Knoxville News.

Mink’s taking it seriously. He thinks you should, too.

“The fact that I’m 75 and it’s unique, yeah,” Mink told the paper. “I understand people are going to look at it and say, ‘What’s this guy doing at 75? That’s crazy. He should never be out there playing against these kind of guys.’

“But if you actually come out and see me play, I think a lot of people would change their minds. I’m not some dork out there. I’m there as an athlete. I might be 75, but I’m an athlete who can play with these guys.”

It’s good that Mink’s confident in his abilities. And I’m sure he’s better than nearly everyone in his age group, or even 10-15 years younger. But can he really play?

What’s his former coach at Roane State, Randy Nesbit, say?

“The only way he can survive without the defense making concessions for him is he has to really be open and he’s got to shoot it as soon as he catches it or pass it as soon as he catches it,” Nesbit told the paper, “because he’s not able, if a player pressures him on the ball, he can’t compete with a junior college player or pro teams, whoever.”

Good luck, Ken. You may need some lucky breaks.

Mike Miller’s also on Twitter, usually talkin’ hoops.