They say 40 is the new 30. That must mean 70 is the new 60.

Entering this decade, the NBA never had seen a 70-year-old full-time NBA coach. Then came Hubie Brown, who was stunningly hired by Memphis in 2002 at 69 and lasted until November 2004, when he stepped down at 71, two months old after a very efficient stint.

Perhaps Brown started something when it comes to the septuagenarian set.

Golden State's Don Nelson, who turns 69 in May, isn't there yet. But Nelson, who recently became the second-oldest full-time coach in NBA history while heading a team that currently is the league's youngest, has two years left on his contract.

Charlotte's Larry Brown, who turns 69 in September, is in the first year of a four-year deal. If he fulfills the life of his contract, he will become the oldest man ever to coach an NBA game, surpassing Bill Bertka, who was then an assistant and stepped in as Lakers interim coach for one game on Feb. 25, 1999 at 71 years, six months.

Then there's Utah's Jerry Sloan, who just turned 67. Of course, he's a young whippersnapper compared to Nelson and Brown.

So the race is on between these modern-day versions of Connie Mack (the legendary baseball manager who retired in 1950 at 87). Between Nelson and Brown, who's going to last longer?

"I don't know," Brown said. "Nellie is pretty special."

Turns out Nelson might let Brown get the record for oldest NBA coach by default. Nelson revealed to InDenver Times last Saturday he will retire when his contract is up in 2011, which would send him out at 71 if his Warriors keep him in the playoffs until his May 15 birthday.

"I hope he gets it," Nelson said of gladly letting Brown land in the record book.

If Brown is still coaching the Bobcats at the end of the 2011-12 regular season, he will be 71 years, seven months, and would have passed Bertka and Brown for oldest head coach in any NBA category.

"As long as they're listening, as long as (the Bobcats) are getting better, I'd love to," Brown of lasting at least until the end of his contract.

So what's the secret to these coaches having found the fountain of youth? Nelson said it comes down to pacing himself.

"I don't try to do everything anymore," said Nelson, who has a 1,305-1,003 mark in 29 seasons and is almost certain next season to break Lenny Wilkens' NBA coaching wins record of 1,332. "I just try to do the big things and let the assistant coaches run the practices."

For Brown, one key is staying in shape.

"I try to stay active," said Brown, who is 1,043-840 in 24 NBA seasons and is also closing in on Wilkens' pro record if one throws in his 229-107 mark in four ABA seasons. "So I think when a player looks at you, I want to be healthy and look like I'm fit. I do things on the court and show guys what to do."

If anybody has watched Brown run a practice, it's surprising he doesn't draw charges. But both Brown and Nelson have stuck around so long because they have great passion for the game.

"I think it's just in them. It's in their DNA," said Warriors guard Jamal Crawford, who played for Brown in New York in 2005-06. "Those guys will always be around the game in some way, shape or form."

Well, maybe not. Nelson insists he will retire to his home in Hawaii when his contract expires in 2011.

"I don't want to end up dying with my last timeout on the court," Nelson said. "Timeout and fall over dead. I want to enjoy retirement a little bit. I've got a lot of things I want to do."

As for Brown, whom Crawford calls a "hoopaholic," he might have at least a 20-second timeout left after Nelson steps away.

Chris Tomasson has covered the NBA for the bulk of the past 23 seasons, most recently the Denver Nuggets for the late, great Rocky Mountain News. He can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com.