Age is just a number when it comes to sports because an athlete knows when is the right time to hang up his boots. Just have a look at Boston Celtics centre Al Horford who managed to win a National Basketball Association (NBA) championship just last year at the age of 38.
Teams look to draft young players but having a veteran in the ranks is the motto used by championship sides in the past. Players who have experience know what it takes to perform at the highest level and also can develop young players. The oldest player to retire from the NBA was Kevin Willis, who hung up his boots after the 2006-07 season at the age of 44.
Let's have a look at the five oldest players who will take part in the 2024-25 NBA season
Kyle Lowry (38 years and 210 days)
Kyle Lowry is set to feature in his 19th season and it seems he is still as young as when he made his debut. The point guard was part of the Philadelphia 76ers that went to the playoffs last season. He featured in six postseason games and averaged 29.2 minutes per game.
He has played for five different teams and has a rather impressive resume. He is a six-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016. He won the championship while playing for Toronto Raptors and also secured a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Lowry's jersey was also retired by Villanova University.
Taj Gibson (39 years and 119 days)
Taj Gibson really impressed everybody during his time at the University of Southern California and later was selected in the first round by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA draft. After featuring for the Bulls in eight seasons, he made his move Oklahoma City Thunder. He has featured for seven different teams in the NBA.
Over his career, Gibson has played 965 regular-season games and his career average is 8.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Chris Paul (39 years and 168 days)
The 6-foot point guard impressed everybody and had an instant impact when he was first drafted in 2005. He was named the Rookie of the Year in 2006. Since his debut, he has been named to the All-Star team for 12 times. He has been selected for All-NBA First Team four times and All-NBA Second Team five times.
He led the NBA in assists in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2022. He ranks third all-time behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd. Paul has a total of 11,894 assists. He is preparing for his 20th season in the league with the San Antonio Spurs.
P.J Tucker (39 years and 169 days)
It is still unclear where P.J Tucker will feature during the upcoming season but he trains with Los Angeles Clippers. He had a fallout with the Clippers last year and now it seems that both parties are trying to resolve the matter.
Tucker has not only played basketball in the States but has also featured in professional leagues in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico, and Germany. He has played 883 games with seven different teams and will feature in his 14th season. Tucker won the championship in 2021 while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
LeBron James (39 years and 296 days)
LeBron James is the oldest player in the league and has set the standard when it comes to fitness and health. He also continues to perform at the highest level day in and out. He will be featured in his 22nd season. He has won the championship four times with three different teams.
He is a 20-time All-Star and has been selected to the All-NBA First Team 13 times. He was also named as the AP Male Athlete of the Year in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an all-time point leaders. He has a whopping 40,474 points in his career and will look to add to his tally in the upcoming season.
