What age do you have to stop playing in the nba?

You must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year in which the draft is held. James would be forced to go to college because of the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) minimum age rule. By Jordan Mamorsky The Bobby Fischer of professional basketball was already a billionaire at 18. For every Lebron James or Kobe Bryant, there are cases in which teams select a young player with high expectations, only to see that the individual is not adequately adapted to the everyday pressures of being a professional athlete. While the financial rewards make sense for many young national and international players, the lack of education and maturity to enter sports leagues with adult men (some over 40) is a cause for concern.