10 Oldest Players In The NBA History: Michael Jordan, Steve Nash, and More

The NBA success of athletes significantly depends on their age due to the physically demanding nature of the sport, which reduces performance capabilities as time passes. Thanks to disciplined diet control along with fitness programs combined with attention on mental alertness, several athletes have protected themselves from normal aging symptoms. Retired players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (age 77) along with LeBron James (age 40) continued their NBA careers because they made recovery and fitness their top priorities.

Each year LeBron James invests millions to employ personal trainers for his physical readiness and to operate cryotherapy units and hyperbaric chambers for optimal performance. Vince Carter chose to continue his NBA career at age 43 through his emphasis on minimal impact movements combined with strict dietary control to protect his body. Apart from providing evidence that NBA players can reach extended professional careers when dedicated to fitness, alongside recovery and nutrition. Body preservation through strength training and mental sharpness combined with flexibility requires a superior understanding of the importance.

10 Oldest Players Ever to Play in NBA

NBA players are best known for their durability and grit, which helps them maintain their consistency throughout. Some players like LeBron James and Chris Paul are still able to show the same level of excellence as their prime selves even while nearing the dawn of their career. Here is a list of some of the oldest players who have been able to leave an impact with their legacy in the league.

10. Udonis Haslem, 44 Years

Udonis Haslem dedicated his whole professional career to the Miami Heat franchise from 2002 till his eventual retirement in 2023. The basketball player has an imposing stature of 6 feet 7 inches with a body weight of 235 pounds. Haslem reached the height of his exceptionally long career through constant dedication to fitness alongside his ability to adapt.

Playing 879 regular-season games, Udonis Haslem averaged 7.5 points while collecting 6.6 rebounds per game. Haslem won three NBA championships with the Heat team; once in 2006 and twice more alongside LeBron James in 2012 and 2013.

The Heat honored Udonis Haslem on January 19, 2023 by retiring his No. 40 jersey number. Following an illustrious playing career, Haslem began his new role with the Heat organization as the Vice President of Basketball Development.

9. Dirk Nowitzki, 46 Years

Dirk Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year basketball career representing the Dallas Mavericks and winning them a championship. Dirk is a 7ft tall big, carrying a weight of 245 pounds, which explains his imposing presence on the court. Nowitzki was praised as a shooter and is considered one of the greatest spot-up shooters as a big. He has won numerous accolades, including 14X NBA All-Star,2011 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011.
Dirk's career points exceed 31,560, ranking him as one of the top scorers in the league's history. Nowitzki maintained his long career through his dedication to fitness-related practices. His impressive career attributes have created a long-lasting legacy in professional basketball.

8. Vince Carter, 48 Years

Vince Carter is one of the legends of the game, who played 22 seasons in the NBA for four different teams. Carter was best known for being a certified bucket getter and athleticism, especially for his flashy dunks. Carter was an 8-time All-Star and has seen significant successes winning gold for Team USA in the Olympics.

Carter's career spanned two decades, wherein he demonstrated incredible grit and determination throughout. Carter scored a career total of 25,728 points, 6,606 rebounds, and 4,714 assists, averaging 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He was honored by both the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets with the retirement of his jersey number 15.

The greatest acknowledgement to Carter's impeccable career was with his induction to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. Vince Carter is among one of those who changed the game by bringing in athleticism, which now defines the modern era of basketball.

7. Steve Nash, 51 Years

Steve Nash was one of the elite point guards who dominated the NBA for the longest time. Born on February 7, 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nash raked up eight All-Star selections in his career whilst also winning consecutive regular season MVP honors in 2005 and 2006. Nash ranks third in all-time assists, having dished 10,335 dimes in his career. He also holds the second-best career percentage in free throws, finishing 90.43% from the FT line.

Nash was best known for his playmaking, ball handling and shooting skills. The Canadian star was best known for playing effective pick and roll runs, especially with his running mates Dirk Nowitzki in the Dallas Mavericks and Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion at the Phoenix Suns. In 2021, Nash was ranked 38th in the top 75 player of all-time list to commemorate the NBA's 75th anniversary.

6. Juwan Howard, 52 Years

Juwan Howard had a career spanning more than a decade, where he played for multiple different teams in the league. Regarded as one of the best defensive big men since his college days, Howard was also known as “Rock of Gibraltar” for his ‘rock-solid’ power to provide rebounds and defense. Even during the later days of his career, when Howard signed with the Heat in 2010, he was still lauded for his ability to play both as a forward and a center and for maintaining his professionalism as a veteran.

For the longest time, Howard was expected to be a future general manager or a coach. He started out as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, before coaching University of Michigan's basketball team and later joining the Brooklyn Nets as a part of Jordi Fernandez's coaching team.

5. Alonzo Mourning, 55 Years

Alonzo Mourning had a resounding presence all throughout the span of his 15-year career in the NBA. Born on February 8, 1970, Mourning spent a major chunk of his career playing as a center for the Miami Heat. He was an important veteran leader in the Miami Heat's 2006 title campaign, leading the team alongside Shaquille O'Neal and a young Dwyane Wade.

Mourning was best known for his defensive excellence as a big, having won two Defensive Player of the Year titles, being named to the All-Defensive First Team twice, and leading the league in blocks consecutively between 1999 and 2000. Mourning is a 7x All-Star, with the Miami Heat honoring his legacy by retiring his No.33 jersey.

Mourning's story is one of grit and determination as he had considered retiring after being diagnosed of a life-threatening kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, thanks to Mourning's cousin Jason Cooper who donated his left kidney, Mourning was able to return back to basketball and continue playing in the league till 2008.

4. Michael Jordan, 62 Years

Michael Jordan's name is synonymous with basketball greatness, for being the one who took the NBA to global levels. Born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Jordan is often regarded as the ‘Messiah' or ‘Black Jesus’ of basketball. Jordan spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Bulls, winning 6 championships with the franchise between 1991 to 1998.

Jordan's career is nothing less than a storied tale in the league's history. After his father's untimely death in 1993, Jordan surprisingly announced his retirement from professional basketball. However, Jordan marked a grand return to the game in 1995, with the landmark press conference quote, “I'm back.”

Throughout his career, Jordan was leading the NBA in scoring, earning titles of highest seasonal scorer (30.1 PPG) as well as postseason scorer (33.4 PPG). Jordan earned several laurels through his career, including DPOY in 1998 and being named to the All-Defensive First Teams, which proved his grit as a two-way guard on the court. Jordan was an inspiration for many contemporaries in the league, paving the way for legends such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to carry the baton of his unmatched legacy forward.

3. Kevin Willis, 62 Years

Kevin Willis played 21 seasons in the NBA and was known as one of the premier bigs in the league. Born on September 6, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, Willis maintained an imposing presence on the court with his 7-foot stature and 245 pounds weight.

Willis represented eight different teams in the league, such as the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and the Toronto Raptors. Willis also spent some considerable tenure playing for the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs as well. In his expansive NBA career, Willis averaged 12.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. He has won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 and was selected as an All-Star in 1992.

2. Robert Parish, 71 Years

Robert Parish is one of the undisputed legends when one speaks of Celtics basketball. Born on August 30, 1953, Parish was selected as an 8th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1976. After spending a few amicable years in the Bay area, Parish moved to the Boston Celtics in a pre-draft trade and immediately had an impact alongside a young Larry Bird and Kevin McHale on the roster.

Playing 14 years for the Celtics, Parish won 3 NBA titles and formed the big three alongside Bird and McHale. The trio is still considered to be one of the greatest frontcourts in NBA history. Parish, alongside Bird and McHale, were named to the NBA's 50th anniversary All-Time Team. Parish is the all time leader for the Celtics in blocked shots, offensive, and defensive rebounds and averaged 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in his 14 season career.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 77 Years

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the leading scorer in the NBA before LeBron James passed him in the All-Time list. Kareem played for 20 years in the league, with his career spanning through his tenure between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar was born in New York City on April 16, 1947, and had a domineering presence with a 7'2" frame. He popularized the skyhook shot, which yielded him as a high-performance field goal player shooting 55.9% from the field.

Kareem is a six-time NBA champion, winning the Finals MVP twice and the regular season MVP 6 times in his career. He was selected as an All-Star 19 times in his career and was selected to the All-NBA First Team 10 times as well. Kareem is undisputedly one of the game's biggest legends in the sport, changing the course of the game and paving the way for several future bigs as an inspiration.

Listing 10 Oldest NBA Players

We have already explained the oldest NBA players in detail above. Now, we have organized the information into a table for easy reference. This table includes the rank, date of birth, and the year of each player’s last game. Whether you're looking for a specific player or just interested in the league’s longest careers, this table has the key details.