They says age is just a number, but that number is all too much important if you are an NBA player.
Some players are able to remain around into their 40s. There is no Tom Brady or Zdeno Chara in the NBA, as legends rarely play into their mid-40s. The current crop of the oldest NBA players is actually relatively youngest , with a few aging superstars near the top of the list in the industry
Here are some of the oldest players in the NBA entering the 2021-22 season and in league history
Oldest NBA player, who are they?
Andre Iguodala, 41 years old
The 2015 NBA Finals MVP continues to bounce around the league, rejoining the Golden State Warriors for the 2021-22 season after two years with the Heat. Andre Iguodala began his career in 2004 with the Sixers, playing eight seasons in Philly before a year with the Denver Nuggets and six with the Warriors.
A three-time champion, two-time All-Defense and one-time All-Star, Iggy has averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 1,192 career regular season games. He’ll contribute as a veteran off the bench for the Warriors in 2021, but he turns 38 in January
. Udonis Haslem, 37 years old
Remembered for his days as an enforcer on the Big 3 Miami Heat of the early 2010s, Udonis Haslem is still playing for the Heat. He’s been with Miami since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2003, making him the longest-tenured player in franchise history.
. LeBron James, 36 years old
As LeBron James continues to drive his resume among the best players of all-time, he continues to climb the list of oldest active NBA players. James’ accolades through 18 NBA seasons are remarkable — 17 All-Star appearances, 17 All-NBA bids, six All-Defensive teams, four MVPs, four titles and four Finals MVPs. He’s also well on his way to becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, sitting just 3,020 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The only thing King James is playing for these days is more championships. In 18 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, James has averaged for the playoffs after suffering significant injuries in two of the last three seasons.
Dikembe Mutombo, 43 years old 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 1,310 regular season games. He’s also played 266 playoff games, more than any player in league history. It might be time for James, who turns 37 this December, to start scaling back in the regular season to save his body
Before starring in an unforgettable commercial, Dikembe Mutombo was a Hall of Fame NBA player. He was drafted No. 4 overall by the Nuggets in 1991, playing five seasons in Denver before signing with the Hawks in 1996. In nine full seasons with the Nuggets and Hawks, Mutombo averaged 12.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game while winning Defensive Player of the Year four times.
Mutombo was traded to the Sixers in 2001, joining the team just in time for their run to the 2001 NBA Finals. His play drastically dropped off in the following years due to injuries and age. The final years of Mutombo’s career were spent with the Nets, Knicks and Rockets before he retired in 2009 at 43 years old. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 201
Paul millsap
Second round pick in 2000 Paul Millsap has exceeded all expectations for his 15-year career. His first seven seasons with the Utah Jazz were solid, as he developed into a starting-caliber forward. Everything changed when he signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013. He was an All-Star every year he played for the Hawks, averaging 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds across four seasons.
