Find out the oldest players in the NBA, from those who are currently active to the oldest players in the history of the league.
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Who are the oldest players in NBA history?
Name | Age when retired |
Nat Hickey | 45 |
Kevin Willis | 44 |
Robert Parish | 43 |
Vince Carter | 43 |
Dikembe Mutombo | 42 |
The oldest NBA player ever was Nat Hickey, who played one game for the Providence Steamrollers at the age of 45 years and 363 days back in the 1947-48 season.
The Steamrollers were a part of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA in 1949. Although it was technically a different league, the NBA recognises the three BAA seasons between 1946 and 1949 as part of NBA history.
Hickey was a Croatian-American guard who served as the Steamrollers’ head coach for part of the 1947-48 season. He activated himself to play in one game, making him the oldest player in NBA history.
The second-oldest player in NBA history is Kevin Willis, who played five games for the Dallas Mavericks in 2007. In what was his 21st NBA season, Willis’ last appearance came at the age of 44 years and 224 days.
Next on the list is Robert Parish, the legendary centre who won four titles as part of the Boston Celtics and, later, the Chicago Bulls. Parish won his fourth title in his final season with the Bulls, and his last appearance came at the age of 43 years and 254 days on 11 May 1997.
The fourth-oldest player in NBA history is Vince Carter, who retired in March 2020 while playing for the Atlanta Hawks.
An eight-time All-Star who is considered one of the best dunkers of all time, Carter played in the league for 22 years and made his last appearance at 43 years and 45 days. Carter made a three-pointer with his final shot in a game against the New York Knicks.
Rounding out the top five oldest players in NBA history is Dikembe Mutombo, the second-most prolific shot blocker of all time.
Mutombo played in the NBA from 1991 until 2009, when he retired at the age of 42 years and 300 days while playing for the Houston Rockets.
Who are the oldest active NBA players?
Next, let’s dive into a rundown of the oldest active NBA players.
Name | Current age |
LeBron James | 40 |
Chris Paul | 39 |
Kyle Lowry | 39 |
P.J Tucker | 39 |
Taj Gibson | 39 |
LeBron James, 40, is the oldest NBA player right now, and is considered one of the top NBA players of all time. James currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers (where he’s been since 2018), and despite being the oldest on our list, he remains a dominant force.
The second-oldest player currently on an NBA roster is Chris Paul (39), who plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Paul joined the Spurs in 2024 after success with the Phoenix Suns (2020-2023) and the Golden State Warriors (2023-2024).
Next on our list is Kyle Lowry, also 39, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers after a successful run with the Miami Heat (2021-2024). Known for his ability to make snap decisions under pressure, Lowry remains a formidable opponent.
The fourth oldest player is P.J Tucker, 39, who recently signed a two-year deal with the New York Knicks. Known for his impressive defensive skills, including the ability to guard multiple positions, Tucker shows no signs of backing down.
Finally, Taj Gibson, also 39, is the fifth-oldest active player in the NBA. Gibson currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets, yet he’s had a long career playing for the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Washington Wizards.
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