Oldest Active NBA Players

By Troy Wright •  Updated: 09/13/19 •  3 min read

The Oldest Active NBA Players for 2021

The average age for a basketball player is currently about 26.5 years, with the youngest players hovering around the 20s. Being thirty and up in that cutthroat game could easily feel old, but being over forty will definitely qualify you for our list of oldest active NBA players.

These five basketball veterans have spent the better part of their lives on the court. They played on different teams, traveled all over the map, and experienced the game in a way others only dream about. Wikipedia also has good information on the oldest active NBA players as the oldest players historically (Active or Inactive)

The List of the 5 Oldest Active NBA Players

Here is our list of the oldest active NBA players for 2021:

1. Udonis Haslem, Heat (born 6/9/1980)

Udonis Johneal Haslem was born on June 9, 1980, in Miami, Florida. He plays power Forward like no other. Haslem is 6 feet and 8 inches and weighs 235 lb, which, mixed with his ball skills, makes him an unstoppable player.

He started playing basketball in high school, went off to France for a year and played successfully as a professional basketball player. When he came back in 2003 and signed with the Miami Heat.

Haslem is one of the few players who stayed with one team throughout their career, and it’s truly admirable.

There’s much talk about Haslem’s retiring, but there’s also a lot of talk that he will stay on with the Miami Heat for one more season.

2. Andre Iguodala, Heat (born 1/28/1984)

3. Carmelo Anthony, Trail Blazers (born 5/29/1984)

4. J.J. Redick, Pelicans (born 6/24/1984)

5. LeBron James, Lakers (born 12/30/1984)

Who’s Out From Last Years Oldest Active NBA Players? 

Vince Carter officially retired earlier his year, which means Udonis Haslem currently holds the title of oldest active player on an NBA roster for 2020/21.  The 40 year old big man re-signed with the Heat for the coming season, Many of the NBA’s other oldest players haven’t found teams to play on this for 20/21.  Jamal Crawford, Pau Gasol, Kyle Korver, Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, J.J. Barea, Anthony Tolliver, and Taj Gibson are on the free agent market and would rank on this list  if they were signed yet this year.

Some Parting Thoughts on the Oldest Active NBA Players

The older players naturally lose some of their agility over the years, especially when they’re compared to the younger crop. The world of professional sports is ruthless, but it’s also smart. The more seasoned players bring a lot to the game. 

They have years of strategy up their sleeves, they know a thing or two about mental toughness, and they can truly lead their teams. The younger players look up to them, and it’s more of a dream come true for them to be playing side by side with champions they grew up idolizing. 

The oldest active NBA players are true icons, they still have so much more to give, and we hope to see them stay on the court (we did it again) for many more seasons.  

Troy Wright

I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.