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20 Oldest Active NBA Players: Who Are the Veterans of the League?

The NBA is a place where speed and agility often steal the spotlight. There exists a rarefied group of athletes who defy the relentless march of time. These are the experienced battlers, the shrewd tacticians, and the battle-tested leaders who have endured decades of competitive rigour.

With the NBA perpetually ushering in waves of prodigious talent, these veterans serve as living embodiments of resilience, know-how, and an enduring love for the sport. Their exceptional durability and adaptability serve as a testament to their remarkable journey.

Whether it be the astute minds directing plays or the bodies that have defied the odds, each player on this roster encapsulates the rich legacy and boundless future of basketball. 

They serve as custodians of invaluable knowledge, passing the torch to the upcoming generation while continuing to hold their ground on the hardwood. Join us in uncovering the identities of these ageless marvels who have triumphed over time to etch their names into the annals of basketball history.

1. LeBron James 

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LeBron James, at 38 years old, is a seasoned professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He holds the record for being both the youngest and oldest player to ever grace the NBA court.

LeBron epitomizes greatness, consistently surpassing the high expectations set for him since his days in high school in Akron, Ohio. From his inaugural NBA dribble to the present, he has consistently showcased his extraordinary talent and skill.

During his tenure with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, James secured his first two NBA championships, earning both league MVP and Finals MVP honours in those years.

Then, in 2016, he masterminded a remarkable comeback against the Golden State Warriors, leading the Cavaliers to their first championship and ending Cleveland’s longstanding sports drought, all while overcoming a 3–1 deficit.

In 2018, LeBron exercised his contract option to leave the Cavaliers and joined the Los Angeles Lakers, subsequently capturing the 2020 NBA championship and earning his fourth Finals MVP title.

2. P. J. Tucker 

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At 38 years of age, P. J. Tucker is a seasoned professional basketball athlete currently affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He competed in college basketball as a member of the Texas Longhorns. In 2008, Tucker earned accolades as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Finals MVP of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

He clinched an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, and he also secured championships in international leagues, including the Israeli Super League in 2008 with Hapoel Holon, as well as the German League and the German Cup in 2012 with Brose Bamberg.

3. Chris Paul

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Chris Paul, aged 38 years old, is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely recognized as one of the greatest point guards in the history of the sport.

Paul has an impressive list of achievements, including winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, and securing two Olympic gold medals. 

He led the NBA in assists five times and holds the record for most steals with six. Additionally, he has been chosen for twelve NBA All-Star teams, eleven All-NBA teams, and nine NBA All-Defensive teams.

In 2021, he earned a spot on the prestigious NBA 75th Anniversary Team. From 2013 to 2021, Paul also served as the president of the National Basketball Players Association.

Initially slated for a move to the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul was ultimately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in late 2011. In 2017, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s historic 65-win season in his first year.

Following one more season in Houston, he was part of a trade package for Russell Westbrook to join the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.

As the Thunder shifted focus towards rebuilding, Paul was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2020, marking his first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2021. In the subsequent season, he played a key role in the Suns’ record-breaking 64-win season.

After three seasons in Phoenix, Paul was traded and found himself with the Golden State Warriors.

4. Taj Gibson

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Taj Gibson, aged 38, is an American professional basketball athlete who currently suits up for the Washington Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

During his college basketball career, he represented the USC Trojans and was chosen as the 26th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA draft. Throughout his time with the Bulls, Gibson primarily fulfilled the role of a key reserve off the bench.

Subsequently, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, followed by signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves later in the same year. Then, in 2019, he inked a contract with the New York Knicks.

5. Kyle Lowry

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Kyle Lowry, aged 37 years old, is an American professional basketball player currently representing the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With six All-Star selections to his name, he earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team in 2016.

His standout achievement includes winning an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, a historic moment for the franchise as it marked their first and only title to date. He also contributed to the U.S. national team’s gold medal victory in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Lowry’s legacy is firmly established as one of the greatest players in the history of the Toronto Raptors. He played a pivotal role in transforming the franchise from the post-Vince Carter era into a championship-winning team in 2019.

Serving as their starting point guard from 2012 to 2021, Lowry was a linchpin in the Raptors’ sustained success over the years.

6. George Jesse Hill Jr. 

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George Hill Jr., now aged 37, is an American professional basketball player who most recently competed for the Indiana Pacers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Hill’s NBA journey began when he was selected as the 26th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2008 NBA draft. He spent three seasons with the Spurs before being traded to the Indiana Pacers in June 2011. His stint with the Pacers lasted for five seasons, and in July 2016, he was traded to the Utah Jazz.

Following his time with the Jazz, Hill signed with the Sacramento Kings as a free agent in July 2017 but was subsequently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2018. It was with the Cavaliers that he made his inaugural appearance in the NBA Finals.

In December 2018, Hill was part of a trade that sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks. Then, in November 2020, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his journey continued as he was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in March 2021.

Surprisingly, Hill returned to the Bucks as a free agent in August of that same year before finding his way back to the Pacers through a four-team trade.

7. Goran Dragić 

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Goran Dragić, a 37-year-old Slovenian professional basketball player, was most recently part of the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association.

Prior to joining the NBA in 2008, he gained experience in professional basketball in both Slovenia and Spain. Throughout his career, Dragić has also been a part of the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and the Chicago Bulls.

His standout achievements include being selected for the All-NBA Third Team and earning the title of NBA Most Improved Player while with the Suns in 2014.

Dragić received his first NBA All-Star honour in 2018 with the Miami Heat. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in leading the senior Slovenian national team to their inaugural FIBA EuroBasket championship in 2017, where he was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

8. Garrett Temple 

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Garrett Bartholomew Temple, an American professional basketball player, recently joined the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA) on August 1, 2023, following his release from the New Orleans Pelicans. At 37 years old, Temple brings his skills to the Raptors’ roster.

9. Al Horford

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 Al Horford, a Dominican-Bahamian professional basketball player, currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the age of 37, Horford boasts five NBA All-Star selections and holds the distinction of being the highest-paid Latin American basketball player.

He was chosen as the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, with whom he spent nine seasons before joining the Celtics as a free agent in the 2016 off-season.

Following three seasons with the Celtics, Horford signed with the 76ers in the 2019 off-season, completing a season with the team before being traded to the Thunder in the 2020 off-season. 

Ahead of the 2021 season, Horford was once again traded back to the Celtics, with whom he reached the NBA Finals.

Horford is the highest-paid Latin American basketball player but do you know who is the highest-paid player in the NBA? Find out here.

10. Rudy Gay

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Rudy Gay, now 37, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Prior to his NBA career, he displayed his skills in college basketball while being part of the UConn Huskies.

In the 2006 NBA draft, he was initially selected as the eighth overall pick by the Houston Rockets, but he was soon traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

11. Jeff Green

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Jeff Green, a 37-year-old American professional basketball player, currently competes for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. As of 2023, he has had stints with 11 different NBA teams over the course of 15 seasons.

In the 2007 NBA draft, Green was chosen as the fifth overall pick by the Boston Celtics. Notably, after his inaugural season, he earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2008.

Despite undergoing successful open-heart surgery in 2012, Green demonstrated remarkable resilience in continuing his playing career. In 2023, while playing for the Denver Nuggets, he clinched his first NBA championship.

12. Wesley Matthews

Wesley Joel Matthews Jr., aged 36, is an American professional basketball athlete who currently suits up for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He honed his basketball skills during his college years as a member of the Marquette Golden Eagles. Notably, he is the son of former NBA player Wes Matthews.

13. James Johnson

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At 36 years old, James Johnson, an American professional basketball player, last played for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA.

He served as the starting power forward for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 2007 to 2009. In the 2009 NBA draft, he was chosen as the 16th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls.

14. Joe Ingles

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Joseph Howarth Ingles, aged 36, is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He is also a key player for the Australian national team, often taking on the small forward role. Notably, he holds the record for the most three-pointers made in the history of the Utah Jazz.

Ingles was a valuable member of the Australian basketball squad that secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

15. Danny Green

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Danny Green, a 36-year-old American professional basketball player, currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He was chosen by the Cavaliers as the 46th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

Recognized for his exceptional perimeter defence, Green has consistently made significant contributions on both offence and defence throughout his tenure in the NBA.

His defensive prowess earned him a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the first time in the 2016–17 season.

16. Mike Conley Jr.

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Michael Alex Conley Jr. is a 36-year-old American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Conley spent 12 seasons with the Grizzlies and became the team’s all-time leading scorer before being traded to the Utah Jazz in 2019, then traded again to the Timberwolves in 2023.

17. JaVale McGee

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JaVale McGee, a 35-year-old American professional basketball player, currently plays for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 2008 NBA draft, he was chosen as the 18th overall pick by the Washington Wizards.

McGee boasts an impressive resume as a three-time NBA champion, achieving back-to-back titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and securing a third championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

Notably, he is the son of Olympic gold medalist Pamela McGee and also won a gold medal as a member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.

18. Stephen Curry

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At 35 years old, Curry is widely regarded as one of basketball’s legendary figures, defying his shorter stature by consistently outperforming much taller opponents with his exceptional long-distance shooting.

His ability to effortlessly sink shots from great distances, often without even seeing where they’ll land, is his defining skill and a testament to his illustrious reputation.

His unyielding confidence in his long-range shooting demonstrates his mastery of this crucial basketball skill.

Stephen Curry’s impact on the game extends beyond his technical abilities; he has revolutionized basketball by inspiring players to excel in three-point shooting. In response to evolving scoring trends, offensive strategies now heavily emphasize players’ proficiency in making three-pointers.

While Curry is undoubtedly hailed as the greatest shooter in basketball history by a significant margin, his talent for playmaking is sometimes overlooked.

This future Hall of Famer from Davidson University boasts an impressive list of achievements, including four NBA championships, one Finals MVP award, and two regular-season MVP accolades.

19. Brook Lopez

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Brook Lopez, at 35 years of age, is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He earned NBA All-Star recognition during his time with the Brooklyn Nets and secured spots twice on the NBA All-Defensive Team while representing the Bucks. In 2021, he clinched an NBA championship with Milwaukee. Lopez was chosen as the 10th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the then-New Jersey Nets.

He dedicated nine seasons to the Nets and became the franchise’s top scorer of all time. After a single season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lopez joined the Milwaukee Bucks.

20. Robin Lopez

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Robin Lopez, a 35-year-old American professional basketball player, currently competes for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He was drafted as the 15th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. Subsequently, he was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in 2012 and later to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2013. During his college basketball career, he played for the Stanford Cardinal alongside his twin brother, Brook Lopez.

These seasoned athletes represent the enduring spirit of the NBA, a testament to both their love for the game and their unparalleled work ethic.

As the oldest active players in the league, their experience and leadership continue to shape the future of basketball, offering invaluable mentorship to the next generation of stars while still competing at the highest level.