The oldest active player is LeBron James, who is currently 39 years and 228 days old. The youngest active player in the NBA is Toronto Raptors forward Ulrich. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to John Stockton, there have been numerous players who have played in the same uniform in the NBA after 40 years. The average retirement age for NBA players is reportedly 34 years old.
However, a handful of players who were well over 34 years old have managed to stay in the league. For this article, let's take a closer look at the 10 oldest players who have played in the NBA. Herb Williams built a respectable career in the NBA. The great player scored 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in 18 seasons.
He was part of several teams, including the Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. Bob Cousy was one of the best point guards of his time. In fact, he played a pivotal role in the dominant Boston Celtics dynasty. He then played 13 games in the All-Star Game, 12 NBA team selections, won an MVP and six NBA championships.
Kareem holds the record for the most NBA points of all time. Part of that achievement is due to Kareem's long NBA career. He played for 20 seasons and stayed healthy most of the time. Udonis Haslem is the only active NBA player in this list.
Although not a star player like many on this list, Haslem's longevity lies in his presence in the locker room. Considered the heart and soul of the Heat franchise, Haslem is the only player in his active roster who was part of the organization's three championship wins. Dikembe Mutombo was one of the most important great men of his time. Known for his defensive presence, Mutombo made life difficult for rival teams during his 18-year career.
When it came to important men, Robert Parish was one of the best. While he played consistently throughout his career, Parish also had a long one at 21. In fact, Parish was able to be part of two dynasties over two decades. Kevin Willis built a long and productive career in the NBA. In 21 seasons, including one in which he came out of retirement, Willis averaged 12.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
At 38, LeBron James enters his 21st season in the NBA. The boy from Akron, as James still calls himself, is no longer a boy, and the 38-year-old enters this season as the oldest player in the NBA. But despite his existence, some players have managed to challenge him by staying in the NBA for much longer than the average basketball player. In the past, a college player had to complete their four-year college eligibility before they could enter the league through the NBA draft or as a free agent.
In 19 seasons, Stockton played 10 games in the All-Star Game, 11 selections for the NBA and five selections for defensive teams. In fact, Carter could have stayed longer if it hadn't been for the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the NBA to suspend its season. Mutombo has played eight All-Star games, three NBA selections, six defensive selections and won the Defensive Player of the Year award on four different occasions. The last player to average double digits in a season as the oldest player in the NBA was John Stockton, who averaged 10.8 points for Utah in 2002-03. The youngest player to play in the NBA was Andrew Bynum, who played his first game just six days after his 18th birthday.
In his first game as a player with the Steamrollers, he failed his six shooting attempts and scored only two points in three free throw attempts; he only played one more game before retiring as a player two days before his 46th birthday. Spencer See is a part-time writer at ClutchPoints focusing on the NBA, timeless content, and the celebrity lifestyle. The Pistons won the 2004 finals and Miličić became the youngest player to win the NBA championship, with only five days left until his 19th birthday years. In addition to holding the NBA's all-time scoring record, Kareem has 19 All-Star Game appearances, six MVPs, six championships and two MVPs from the finals.
In addition, Willis' notable accomplishments include an All-Star appearance, a selection for the third NBA team and an NBA championship.
