1) Kevin Willis

At 44 years and 224 days, Willis suited up one final time and finished up his NBA career as the oldest, continuous player in league history. It capped 23 years in the league that included two comebacks, one in 1989 from a devastating knee injury and one in 2007 mostly to secure his place in the record books. Willis also holds the distinction of being the oldest player to win his first NBA title, at age 40 in 2003 with the Spurs. Known for his grueling off-season work-out programs that allowed him to play well into his 40s, Willis was still one of the strongest players in the league even in his advancing age. His career originally ended in 2005 with the Hawks, the team that had drafted him back in 1984, but Willis made a brief comeback with the Mavericks in ’06-’07 that allowed him to surpass the record previously held by Robert Parish.

2) Bob Cousy

Playing without the benefit of modern conditioning and nutrition, many of the NBA’s early stars didn’t manage to last long into their 30s, let alone 40s. Cousy initially made it to age 34, retiring as a six-time champ in 1963 and transitioning immediately into coaching. After a successful stint at Boston College, Cousy returned to the NBA to coach the Cincinnati Royals. It was a challenge from the start, as the now 41-year-old failed to connect with the new generation of players. With the Royals struggling early in Cousy’s first season as coach, and fan interest dwindling, team ownership begged the former Celtics point guard to return the court to draw some attention. Cousy inexplicably obliged, playing sparingly in a handful of games, his first NBA appearances in over six years. The financially strapped Royals moved to Kansas City three years later and Cousy was soon after fired as coach.

3) Udonis Haslem
4) Jamal Crawford

In the interregnum between the NBA shutting down in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and picking back up again that July, Haslem and Crawford both turned 40. Haslem had appeared in just four games before the season paused, but suited up once in “The Bubble” in a meaningless regular season finale. He became the first player to play to age 40 after going un-drafted, and only the fifth to play to 40 while spending his entire career with one team. Crawford actually wasn’t on a roster in March of 2020 but the longtime bench scoring specialist signed with the Nets for the 2020 re-start as an opt-out replacement. He played just one game for Brooklyn at age 40, dropping five points and three assists, in what turned out to be his final NBA appearance. Haslem played three more seasons with the Heat, eventually becoming the oldest player in NBA Finals history in 2023, when he took the court two days shy of his 43rd birthday.

5) Herb Williams

A first round pick of the Pacers in 1981, Williams never fully reached his promise in the NBA but was effective enough to remain in the league for almost the entire ’80s and ’90s. He put up solid stats in the first half of his career, averaging 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in 11 seasons with the Pacers and Mavericks. Already 34 years old when he signed with the Knicks in 1992, Williams managed to hang around for another seven seasons as Patrick Ewing’s backup center. After making just two playoff appearances in the first decade of his career, both first round losses, Williams played in the postseason for seven straight years with the Knicks, including in the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999. He logged a few minutes of play in the latter, a loss to the Spurs, before retiring at age 41.

6) Jason Kidd

One of five players in NBA history to actually play a game on their 40th birthday, the occasion happened while Kidd was in the midst of his final season, ’12-’13. He netted three points, three rebounds, and two assists for the Knicks on that day, hardly up to the standards of his prior triple-double prowess but not bad for a guy playing on shaky knees in his 19th season. Two years prior, Kidd had made history as the oldest starting point guard in NBA Finals history, winning a championship with the Mavericks at age 38. He also became the second oldest champion in a starting lineup ever in that series, behind only Kareem. Kidd also might the first person ever to play in the NBA as a 40-something and coach a 40-something. In his time coaching the Bucks, Kidd’s roster included his 40-year-old former Mavericks teammate Jason Terry.

7) Charles Oakley

If you’re going to play in the NBA into middle age you’ve got to be tough, and few came tougher than Oakley. Drafted by the Bulls in 1985, he lasted nearly two decades in the league before finally retiring in 2004. Oakley spent most of that time as a role player, renowned for his defense, rebounding, and especially intimidation. His reputation as an intense trainer also preceded him and likely explained his longevity. After 18 seasons, Oakley’s career seemed over in 2003 when he went unsigned, but Oakley later inked a 10-day contract with the Rockets after turning 40 and made seven appearances. In retirement Oakley moved into some coaching and lots of hanging out with Michael Jordan, on golf courses and in casinos. Oakley was feigning a comeback in 2007 at age 44 but nothing ever came to fruition.

8) Dirk Nowitzki

If you include his time with DJK Wurzburg in his native Germany, Nowitzki spent 25 years as a professional basketball player. You wouldn’t have expected a quarter century of longevity when Nowitzki first reached the NBA in 1998. Lithe and inexperienced, he was continually pushed around by opposing power forwards and struggling to adapt to NBA schemes. A little extra muscle was added, which helped Nowitzki immensely, but more importantly he developed a virtually unstoppable offensive arsenal that remained effective up to his retirement. Even at age 37, Nowitzki was effortlessly averaging 18+ points per game. The first European born player to play into his 40s, Nowitzki also became the first player to last 21 seasons with a single team, and retired in sixth place on the all-time scoring list.

9) James Edwards

Nicknamed “Buddha” for his stoicism and signature Fu Manchu mustache, Edwards also followed the religious prophet’s habit of longevity, lasting 19 years in the NBA. Drafted by the Lakers in 1977, Edwards played for eight franchises in his 19 seasons. That included back-to-back title seasons as a key component of the “Bad Boys” Pistons. It also included a third title at the end Edwards’ career in 1996, playing light minutes for the legendary Bulls. Edwards turned 40 early in that ’95-’96 season and ended it by becoming the second oldest NBA champion ever, trailing only, you guessed it, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Edwards is now third, also behind Robert Parish). He considered a return in ’96-’97 but found interest lacking and retired, eventually returning to his adopted home of Detroit to manage an automative business owned by former Pistons teammate Vinnie Johnson.

10) Dikembe Mutombo

Already 25 years old by the time he started his NBA career, Mutombo hit the ground running with the Nuggets. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, was an All-Star as a rookie, led the league in blocks in his third season, and earned DPOY in his fourth season. This quick learning curve was no surprise for the seasoned Mutombo but few predicted his longevity. Despite his late start, Mutombo played 18 seasons, stepping away at age 42. Still effective up to the end, he likely could have played to 45 and beyond if not for a ruptured quadriceps suffered in the 2009 playoffs. The Congolese big man is third all time in rebounds and blocks for a player aged 40+, and holds the record for oldest player to grab 20+ rebounds in a game, doing so at age 40 in 2007. In contrast his lengthy career, Mutombo tragically died young, passing away from brain cancer at age 58.

11) Joe Johnson

A lottery pick of the Celtics in 2001, Johnson was traded during his rookie season to the Suns, then bookended his career two decades later with a brief comeback in Boston. In between, “Iso Joe” was one of the top scorers of his generation, averaging 20+ points per game for five straight seasons in his prime. When no team signed him for the ’18-’19 season, Johnson stayed active, earning two league MVP awards in the BIG3 and playing for the U.S. national team in FIBA AmeriCup qualifying. An opportunity arose when the Celtics’ active roster was ravaged by COVID-19 in ’21-’22, and Johnson made one last go of it in the NBA, signing a 10-day contract. He made just one appearance but did score a basket, giving Johnson the unique distinction of being one of just two players to score a basket for the same franchise at age 20 and at age 40, along with Dirk Nowitzki.

12) Andre Miller

Nicknamed “The Professor,” Miller wound up doling out lessons up to the age of 40 before retiring in 2016. Prior to his joining the ranks of NBA 40-somethings, Miller had two other notable superlatives. He is arguably the greatest player in NBA history to never be named to an All-Star team. For years, he was also the greatest player never to reach the second round of the playoffs. Miller finally rectified that one in 2014, playing in the Conference Semifinals with the Wizards at age 38. That was Miller’s sixth franchise and 15th NBA season, and he still had two more years and three more team changes ahead of him. Miller closed out his career with the Spurs in ’15-’16 and even made a few starts in the final stretch of the season. That secured his spot as the second oldest starting point guard in NBA history, behind only John Stockton.

13) Karl Malone
14) John Stockton

Their partnership started when Malone was 22 years old and Stockton 23, and lasted for 18 years, 1,412 regular season games, 172 playoff games, and two NBA Finals (but infamously no title). When their time together ended in 2003, Stockton was retiring at age 41 while Malone was still chasing that elusive ring, joining the Lakers as a 40-year-old free agent. Stockton was the first point guard to remain active into their 40s and he set numerous age-related records. That includes his record 28 games with 10 or more assists after turning 40 (all other players in NBA history have three combined). Stockton’s 744 total assists as a 40-something is also the all-time record (second place Vince Carter has 289) as is his 162 steals. As for Malone, he was still averaging 20+ points per game at age 39 but fell apart after reaching that magic number of 40. He struggled through the ’03-’04 season with injuries and didn’t get a title anyway, as the Lakers were upset by the Pistons in NBA Finals. One highlight for Malone in that season was becoming the first NBA player to record a triple-double after their 40th birthday.

15) Jason Terry

He could have retired at age 39 after the ’16-’17 season, when Terry saw scarce playing time coming off the bench for the Bucks. But the resilient guard came back for one more campaign, fighting through a calf strain to participate as a mentor for a team of young, rising stars. It was a perfect capper for Terry’s career, as he was never a superstar and never his team’s best player, but always the heart and soul. This was true in his early years racking up big scoring numbers for the Hawks, his middle years as a sixth man extraordinaire for the Mavericks, and his later years as a journeyman for the Celtics, Nets, Rockets, and Bucks. Terry found limited playing time again with the Bucks in ’17-’18, then retired at age 40 to begin his coaching career. He did get start a few games in that final season, becoming one of just four NBA players ever to start at point guard in their 40s.

16) Tim Duncan

Of course Duncan was going to last to age 40. How could he not? Even when he started out in the NBA at age 21, Duncan was playing like a proverbial old man, with his bank shot jumpers and discreet post moves. This stood in stark contrast throughout his career to more dynamic rivals like Shaquille O’Neal, the man who dubbed him “The Big Fundamental.” Duncan was remarkably consistent, averaging 19+ points and 10+ rebounds per game in each of his first 12 NBA seasons, while earning Rookie of the Year, league MVP twice, and three Finals MVP awards. The Spurs clinched their fifth title of Duncan’s career in 2014, just a few weeks after he’d turned 38. The franchise legend hung around for two more seasons after that, making a 15th All-Star appearance in 2015, and then turning 40 during the 2016 playoffs, which ended with San Antonio losing to the Thunder in the Conference Semifinals.

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By the numbers: Age superlatives in NBA history, oldest player to…

Play in an NBA game: Nat Hickey in 1948 (45 years, 363 days)
Play in an NBA game with a continuous career: Robert Parish (43 years, 254 days) in 1997 in his 20th consecutive season
Win an NBA championship: Robert Parish (43 years, 287 days) in 1997 with the Bulls
Earn the NBA Finals MVP award: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38 years, 54 days) in 1985 with the Lakers
Earn the NBA league MVP award: Karl Malone (35 years, 307 days) in 1999
Play in an NBA All-Star Game: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (41 years, 302 days) in 1989
Lead the NBA in scoring: Michael Jordan (35 years, 117 days) in ’97-’98 with 28.7 points per game
Lead the NBA in assists per game: Steve Nash (37 years, 65 days) in ’10-’11 with 11.4 assists per game
Lead the NBA in rebounds per game: Dennis Rodman (36 years, 340 days) in ’97-’98 with 15.0 rebounds per game
Score 20 points in an NBA game: Udonis Haslem (42 years, 304 days) with 24 points in 2023
Score 30 points in an NBA game: Dirk Nowitzki (40 years, 294 days) with 30 points in 2019
Score 40 points in an NBA game: Michael Jordan (40 years, 4 days) with 40 points in 2003
Finish with a triple-double in an NBA game: Karl Malone (40 years, 127 days) in 2003
Finish with a triple-double in an NBA playoff game: John Stockton (39 years, 33 days) in 2001

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17) John Long

Even making it to the NBA was no guarantee for Long, a second round draft choice of the Pistons in 1978. But he persevered and thrived, largely as the starting shooting guard in the early days of the “Bad Boys” era. Long was traded to the Sonics in 1986 and bounced around a bit from there, but made two comebacks to his hometown Pistons, including as part of the ’88-’89 title team. Long’s NBA career seemed finished at age 34 but he stayed active, playing in the CBA, the French LNB, and with Magic Johnson’s barnstorming teams. An old friend and teammate came calling in 1996, when Raptors vice president Isiah Thomas signed Long to be a veteran influence for the young roster. Though he was 40 years old and a full five years removed from his last NBA action, Long proved he still had something left, including hitting a game winner in an early season victory over the Bullets.

18) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

It’s one thing to stay active in the NBA into your 40s, but it’s another to actually still succeed. Much has been made about Abdul-Jabbar’s “retirement tour” distracting the Lakers and possibly preventing a three-peat for the team in ’88-’89. But the fact remains that into his 40s, he was still starting at center and averaging double-digit points. Abdul-Jabbar has claimed he refined his signature sky-hook in fifth grade, and 30 years later it was still unstoppable. He was also certainly not hanging around just for statistical accolades, having already eclipsed the all-time scoring mark in 1984. Abdul-Jabbar was still considered an option in the clutch too, notably hitting the NBA Finals clinching free throws in 1988 at age 41. The most astonishing part of Kareem’s late-career success is the amount of pure mileage he had already put on his body. Not only did he play 1,560 regular season games in 20 seasons, he also played in the postseason 18 times and the NBA Finals 10 times.

19) Grant Hill

No one following Hill’s career in his prime would have expected longevity to eventually be part of his Hall of Fame resume. In a four year stretch starting at age 28, Hill played in just 47 games out of a possible 328 due to injuries. It seemed reasonably possible at the time that he would be retired by age 32 but not only did Hill persevere for another decade, he thrived. He gave the Magic one last All-Star level season in ’04-’05, then slowly transitioned into a defensive and passing role player. This landed him the starting small forward spot for five seasons with the title contending Suns, up until the age of 39. Turning 40 right before the start of the ’12-’13 season, Hill signed with the Clippers and played one more season, albeit an injury-riddled one. He officially announced his retirement at the end of that season, after a first round playoff loss.

20) Charles Jones

One of four brothers who all played in the NBA, Jones had the least impressive stats of the quartet but his career lasted by far the longest. An eighth round draft pick in 1979, Jones didn’t make his debut until 1984 at age 26 and didn’t find consistent playing time until he was almost 28 years old. His career somehow still lasted for 15 seasons and his late beginnings weren’t the only long odds element. Jones averaged just 4.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his career and struggled almost constantly with injuries, playing in just 726 total games, i.e., an average of 48 per season. But he remained a steady asset for his rebounding, defense, and veteran presence, all of which came together in ’94-’95, when he played a key part in the Rockets’ championship run despite making just three regular season appearances.

21) Danny Schayes

His Hall of Fame father Dolph has the advantage on him in every other conceivable NBA accomplishment but Danny can at least say he played to an older age. While Dolph retired in 1964 at age 35, Danny made it all the way to 40 before stepping away in 1999. A first round pick in 1981, Schayes is widely considered a flop, a stiff, and maybe even the rare example of an NBA nepo baby. But credit where credit is due, he was a solid enough center in his prime, averaging 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his final three seasons with Denver. Those stats dropped precipitously in his 30s but Schayes remained a serviceable backup center. Schayes was still only 39 years old when he played his final regular season game, with the Timberwolves in the lockout shortened ’98-’99. But he made a brief playoff appearance a week later and in between, turned 40.

22) Michael Jordan

When he retired at age 30 in 1993 to play baseball, we mostly assumed it was temporarily. When he retired at age 35 in 1998, it felt permanent, even though Jordan himself stated “never say never.” But Jordan couldn’t leave well enough alone. Three seasons removed from his last NBA game, he came back at age 38 to play for the Washington Wizards, announcing that his salary would be donated to relief efforts for the 9/11 attack victims. Now a little heftier and slower and playing small forward, he still had the Jordan magic and further assaulted the NBA record books. Just a few days after his 40th birthday, Jordan became the oldest player ever to score 40+ in a game, with 43 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Nets. Jordan ultimately played 30 games as a 40-year-old before retiring again, and this time we all knew it was for real.

23) Cliff Robinson

Over an 18-year NBA career, Robinson was one of the league’s most consistent and dependable players. Contrast that with his tumultuous off-court activities, which led to him pleading guilty to assault at age 23, getting arrested for a DUI at age 34, and being suspended by the NBA for substance abuse violations at age 39. Despite his legal troubles, “Uncle Cliffy” was beloved and revered around the league for his work ethic and reliability. Robinson missed two games or less in 14 of the seasons he played, including the ’05-’06 season during which he turned 39. When his 40th birthday occurred in December 2006, Robinson was sidelined indefinitely with an injured knee. It would be easy and understandable for him to hang it up right there but Robinson was determined and returned for the last two months of the ’06-’07 season, helping the Nets make the playoffs before retiring.

24) Steve Nash

With a headlong style typically played at breakneck speed, Nash’s basketball approach certainly wasn’t optimized for a lengthy career. Owing to his intricate workouts and careful dietary habits, Nash somehow lasted 18 seasons in the NBA before retiring a couple months after turning 40. He was also exceedingly durable for most of his career, never missing more than seven games for 11 straight seasons starting in ’01-’02. That streak ended as soon as he joined the Lakers in 2012, as leg, back, and hamstring issues began to hamper Nash at age 38. Nash’s best game with Los Angeles arguably happened on his 40th birthday, finishing with 19 points and five assists in a win over 76ers (only John Stockton scored more points in a game on a player’s 40th birthday). When he retired in 2014, Nash turned down a contract offer from the Cavaliers, with whom he could have made a Finals debut.

25) Robert Parish

To put Parish’s career into perspective for all you nerds out there, the original Star Wars (“A New Hope”) was released in theaters during his rookie season and when he retired, pre-production was starting on Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The steady, stoic center played in a record 1,611 regular season games and 184 playoff games, winning four championships. Parish often credited his lifelong martial arts training as the basis of his longevity, and whatever he did certainly worked for him. He missed just 42 total games in his 14 seasons with the Celtics. In the first game of the ’95-’96 season he became just the second player, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to play continuously to age 42, and in ’96-’97 Parish became the first player to reach age 43. Parish continued to contribute at age 41 with the Hornets and at age 43, winning a fourth ring with the Bulls.

26) Juwan Howard

Howard was never as big of an NBA star as his “Fab Five” Michigan teammates Chris Webber and Jalen Rose, but he far outlasted both of them. Howard played in 19 seasons, retiring in 2013 at age 40, while Rose stepped away at age 34 and Webber at age 35. The Wolverines All-American showed some real promise over his first five seasons, averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, making his All-Star debut at age 23, and signing the first $100 million contract in NBA history. Howard remained solid through his prime but never made good on that early potential, becoming a journeyman bench player in the second half of in his career. His eighth and final stop came with Miami, where Howard finally got to experience the playoffs past the second round. He earned two championship rings with the Heat and turned 40 during his final season, ’12-’13.

27) Kurt Thomas

A hard-nosed power forward with rebounding prowess and defensive versatility, Thomas made himself valuable for nine different franchises across 18 NBA seasons. His lengthiest and most memorable stint came with the Knicks, signing with the team ahead of the ’98-’99 season and playing a key role in their surprise run to the NBA Finals as a #8 seed. Thomas averaged 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in his final four seasons with New York then transitioned into a journeyman at age 33, playing for six teams over the next seven years like a shot blocking ronin. He returned to the Knicks to close out his career in ’12-’13, signing as a free agent just a few weeks before his 40th birthday. Thomas was the eldest player in the league when he took the floor on opening night, and the next three oldest were his Knicks teammates Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, and Rasheed Wallace.

28) Rick Mahorn

For a player who had a reputation as one of the toughest and most physical of his era, it’s a marvel that Mahorn was able to last 19 years in the NBA. Possibly the baddest of the “Bad Boy” Pistons, Mahorn’s career accomplishments read almost like police blotter. He has to be the only player ballsy enough to have fought Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Michael Jordan, and Charles Oakley. Released by the 76ers in 1991, Mahorn’s NBA career actually seemed finished at age 33 when he received no contract offers. But after one season in the Italian LBA, Mahorn signed with the Nets and played seven more NBA seasons, including reunions with the Pistons and 76ers. He turned 40 during the 1998 lockout, then suited up in 16 games with the 76ers when the season resumed before retiring.

29) Manu Ginobili

Even at age 40, Ginobili’s herky-jerky Euro-step was confounding defenders. He scored 15+ points in 10 different games after turning 40, including a 26-point performance in a game against the Blazers. Even as the season wore on and he approached 41, Ginobili finished his storied career with 26 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds off the bench in his final two NBA playoff games. Already 25 years old when he made his NBA debut, Ginobili nonetheless lasted 16 seasons, all with the Spurs. He was a champion in his rookie season, just a few weeks shy of his 26th birthday, a first-time All-Star in 2011 at age 33, and a champion for the fourth time in 2014 at age 36. Maybe even more impressive is Ginobili’s lengthy international career, which started with the Argentine junior national team as a 20-year-old in 1997 and ended with a solid performance at age 39 in the 2016 Olympics.

30) Vince Carter

When he took the floor for the Hawks in early 2020, Carter became the first NBA player to appear in four different decades. He struggled that night, shooting just 1-of-7 from the floor and committing five personal fouls. But it was the culmination of an incredible journey for Carter, who turned 43 a few weeks later. A dynamic, high-flying superstar from the start, Carter’s thrilling aerial acrobatics and scoring burden seemed anathema to a player who would hang around to his 40s. But he proved to be a physical marvel, not just active at that age but still able to drop 20 points in a game and thrill fans with occasional dunks and reverse layups. Carter unfortunately didn’t receive a proper send-off, as his career officially ended when his Hawks did not qualify for “The Bubble” in July of 2020. Carter retired as the only player to last 22 seasons in the league and one of just three to play to age 43.

31) Nat Hickey

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the all-time oldest professional basketball player is Abdulmohsen Khalaf Al-Muwallad, who suited up in the Saudi Basketball League at age 51. The NBA record holder is a few years short of that and comes with a huge caveat. The Providence Steam Rollers held a 2-17 record when they hired Hickey as head coach during the ’47-’48 NBA season, so he decided it wouldn’t hurt to try out a player-coach role at age 45. In fairness to Hickey, he was only about 18 months removed from his last appearance on the court. He was player-coach of the NBL’s Indianapolis Kautskys in ’45-’46, closing out a legendary career that lasted over two decades. Regardless, Hickey’s NBA debut went about as well as you’d expect. He shot 0-of-5 from the field and finished with two points against the St. Louis Bombers, then went scoreless the next night while committing four fouls against the Knicks. That was enough for Hickey, whoe spent the remainder of the season as just coach. It may have been gimmicky and it may have been wildly unsuccessful, but Hickey remains the oldest player in NBA history to this day.

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