Slideshow: Athletes who played past their prime

Shaquille O'Neal

For much of the 2000s, Shaq was the most dominant big man in the game of basketball. But age and a lack of conditioning has worn him down and his years as roleplayer on the Suns and Cavs have somewhat diminished his legacy.

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

Willie Mays

Mays was and always will be one of the most beloved players in baseball history. But he probably played a couple seasons too many. Although in 1973, at, 42, he became the oldest player to start in a World Series he took an embarrassing spill during a play and later said, growing old is just a helpless hurt.

(AP Photo)

Michael Jordan

Jordan is and perhaps will always be remembered as the greatest basketball player of all time. But the less said about his third NBA comeback attempt with the Washington Wizards the better.

(AP Photo/Ed Betz)

Mike Tyson

For many years, Mike Tyson was arguably the most feared boxer to ever enter the ring. But a loss to Buster Douglas in 1990 proved he was mortal and in his last fights he was out of shape and had lost his speed. He later admitted his final fights were purely for paychecks.

(AP Photo/Sean Dempsey/PA)

Magic Johnson

After admitted he'd contracted HIV and retiring from the NBA in 1992 with five championship rings--Earvin "Magic" Johnson attempted an improbable comeback in 1996. He returned slower and fatter and lasted only 32 games.

(AP Photo/Eric Draper)

Ricky Henderson

Sure, Ricky Henderson holds some of the most impressive records in baseball history (most stolen bases, most career runs) but he also spent his early 40s going from team to team mostly as a shadow of his former self.

(AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

Dikembe Mutumbo

One of the most prolific defenders and shot blockers in NBA history (he ranks 2nd all-time), Mutumbo anchored the Denver Nuggets franchise in the early-to-mid 90s. He showed flashes of greatness during his journeyman stints on six other teams--but he was injury prone and his game deteriorated.

(AP Photo/The Oregonian, Bruce Ely)

Emmitt Smith

By the time Emmitt Smith wound up on the lowly Arizona Cardinals he was clearly just padding his rushing stats. After two forgettable seasons with the Cards, Smith signed a one day, $0 contract with the Cowboys and immediately retired.

(AP Photo/Rick Hossman)

Muhammad Ali

Most boxers fight way past their prime but few more tragically than Ali. Undeniably "the greatest", he suffered some crushing defeats later in his career and still kept fighting in the early 1980s. The blows he received in ring are widely seen as at least partly responsible for his debilitating Parkinson's disease.

(AP Photo/Jim Palmer)

Roy Jones jr.

Another great boxer, another bad tail end of a career. He has lost six bouts in the last six years and despite pressure to step out of the ring, Jones continues to fight reality.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Allen Iverson

In his 76ers prime, A.I. was one of the most explosive players in NBA history. But his fierce competitiveness took a toll on his legs and over the years he lost his speed and his stroke. After bouncing around between teams with less-than-stellar results, Iverson abruptly ended his career earlier this year.

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Jerry Rice

One of the greatest football players ever, Rice is a three-time Super Bowl winner and holds numerous NFL records. But his years on the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos were far from his best.

(AP Photo/Matt York)