Oldest active NBA players still playing in 2021

The turnover in sports is legendary. Yet while the average length of an NFL career is an amazing 3.2 years, it’s not much better in basketball, where the average pro hoops career is 4.6 years. Maybe it’s not the violence of the NBA as much the lack of spots available. An NFL roster has 53 players on it, while an NBA club carries between 12 and 15 players. So it’s rare you see middle-age men in the Association, such as these gents.

Here’s a list of the oldest active players in the NBA.

Birthdate: June 9, 1980
Haslem hasn't played a game this year - and only played in a handful of games last year - but is on the Miami Heat's roster. Perhaps the team loves his veteran presence and his reputation as the team tough guy, a distinction that plays well with Pat Riley, the former iconic coach who runs the franchise and loves the old-school NBA enforcer. This should be it for Haslem, however, as he's only started in two games over the last five years (not including 2021).

Birthdate: January 28, 1984
Iguodala has had a star-crossed professional career. He's playing in his 17th season since he was drafted by the 76ers in 2004. He's made over $170 million in career salary. He's won three NBA Finals, all with the Golden State Warriors, and was NBA Finals MVP in 2015. Yet with a bulging bio like that, he's a one-time All Star, in the 2011-2012 season, his final year in Philadelphia. Known for his defense and hard dunks, Iguodala is finishing his career with the Miami Heat, who shocked the basketball world by reaching the NBA Finals last year. Maybe they have one more run, and so does he.

Birthdate: May 29, 1984
The Brooklyn-born Anthony is a 12-time All-Star, future Hall of Famer, and isn't even close to being the best player in his draft class. That's life when you're picked third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. The first overall pick? A kid named King James. The No. 4 pick was a power forward named Chris Bosh. And the fifth overall pick was a Marquette star named Dwayne Wade - the most beloved player in Miami's hardwood history. But to Melo's credit, he's accepted his role as a bench player for the Blazers, and is averaging almost 14 points per game in his 18th season. But he's missing the one essential thing his heralded draft mates have - an NBA title. To his credit, Melo is a patriot, with three Olympic Gold medals playing four times for the U.S. men's team.

Birthdate: June 24, 1984
Redick entered the NBA as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, selected by the Orlando Magic. Redick is known as a three-point sniper who left college as the all-time leading scorer at Duke, a school that's produced a few decent NBA players. Since the game isn't as physical in the days of Rick Mahorn or Charles Oakley or Charles Barkley, perimeter players like Redick can be useful in the NBA for 14 or more years. Just last year, at age 35, he averaged 15.3 points per game for the Pelicans. This year, however, is likely his last. Redick is averaging a career-worst 8.7 points per game, plus his contract ends in July.

Birthdate: December 30, 1984
As the most celebrated and dissected athlete on earth, there isn't much to say about King James. He's unbelievably good, astoundingly rich, and somehow still in his prime despite his age. There are some players on this list who are barely role players who are just collecting a check. Some are still strong contributors. But there's only one LeBron, who turns 37 this year and is still arguably the best basketball player in the world.

Birthdate: Jan 29, 1985
The far less celebrated of the Gasol Brothers, Marc was actually drafted by the Lakers in 2007 and didn't actually play for them until, well, now, 14 years later. He had his rights traded to Memphis for his brother Pau, who went on to win two NBA FInals with some guy named Kobe Bryant. Between the titles, the L.A. life, and the public perception that Pau Gasol was also a medical doctor (he didn't quite get his degree in Spain, leaving to pursue his NBA career), Marc Gasol didn't get props until later in life. He finally won a title with Toronto after 11 NBA seasons, and is now finally in Los Angeles, playing with another pretty decent player named LeBron James, making the Lakers the favorites to win another title this year to match last year's championship. As they say in sports, sometimes the greatest ability is availability. A three-time All-Star, Marc Gasol punched in every day and he's finally getting great returns.

Birthdate: February 10, 1985
The former forward from Louisiana Tech was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. Millsap has played for three NBA clubs over 15 seasons (Utah, Atlanta, Denver). Perhaps he should have stayed in Atlanta, where he spent four seasons (2013-2017) and was an All-Star in each of them. In fact, Millsap wasn't an All-Star before or after his time with the Hawks. But he's still had a robust career, averaging about 14 points and 7.3 rebounds per game since '06. Considering the average length of an NBA player's career is 4.8 years, Millsap is an emblem of endurance.

Birthdate: May 5, 1985
The former Texas Longhorn played his rookie season (2006) for the Toronto Raptors, then pinballed around the basketball globe - including stops in Ukraine, Israel, Greece, Italy, and Germany - before returning to the NBA in 2012.. To italicize Tucker's toughness, in the age of loaf, er, load management, Tucker has played in at least 78 of the 82-game NBA schedule in seven of his last ten seasons.

Birthdate: May 6, 1985
While many folks on these lists just hang on for the paycheck and ephemeral fame that beats sitting on the couch, Chris Paul has been a serious player since he was picked No. 4 in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Indeed, Paul has been an All-Star in 12 of his 16 NBA seasons, including his last two. Paul won't need his renowned crossover or to slide around some defender five years from his last game; he can just stroll into the Hall of Fame.

Birthdate June 24, 1985
Gibson's blue-collar attitude has literally earned him the handle "Lunchpail" for his effort on the hardwood. Gibson was born when some of us were watching Crockett and Tubbs take it to the bad guys on the neon streets of Miami Vice. Jokes aside, Gibson, soon to turn 36, has earned every minute of his 13-plus year career in the NBA, where dunks are celebrated but not dives for the ball, where he's made his career.

Twitter: @JasonKeidel

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