As sports science advances, professional athletes are playing longer than ever before. For some of the luckiest stars, their careers can last into their 30s and sometimes into their 40s. LeBron James is on this list of players. The experienced superstar will be 38 years old at the beginning of the new NBA season and 39 years old at the end of the new season.
However, LeBron is still a top-10 talent in the NBA. However, he’s not the only high-level aging player in the league. Multiple players under contract are on the wrong side of 35 but can still make a significant impact on the field.
Here are the five oldest players in the NBA heading into the 2023-24 season.
The 5 oldest players entering the 2023-2024 NBA season
#1 LeBron James – 38 years old
LeBron James enters the new NBA season as the league’s oldest player. LeBron, who was drafted in 2003, is now starting to face the kids of his former rivals in the league; he’s been around for so long. However, LeBron remains one of the most talented players in the world.
LeBron will be 39 by the end of the 2023-24 season and could easily continue playing into his 40s if he chooses. The veteran superstar can decide his future based on how successful he and the Los Angeles Lakers are next season.
#2 PJ Tucker – 38 years old
P.J. Tucker is also 38 years old and will start the new season with the Philadelphia 76ers in the second year of his three-year, $33 million contract. Tucker is known as one of the most consistent 3-and-D wing players in the NBA.
Tucker’s role has diminished over the years, and he often finds himself spacing the floor in the weak-side corner. However, Tucker’s versatility, experience and shooting ability will ensure he continues to be on the court despite being one of the oldest players in the NBA.
#3 Chris Paul – 38 years old
Chris Paul is one day younger than PJ Tucker. As a result, the veteran point guard is the third-oldest player in the NBA. However, Paul’s age has not stopped him from joining the Golden State Warriors this season, where he is expected to play a major role.
On October 3, after the Warriors’ first training, coach Steve Kerr admitted in an interview with the media that the Golden State Warriors will change some offensive principles to give full play to Paul’s role. Even at 38 years old, Paul is still talented enough for teams to game plan around him.
#4 Taj Gibson – 37 years old
Taj Gibson has been in the NBA since 2009 and has been an impact role player throughout his career. Gibson will spend the upcoming season with the Washington Wizards, taking on a veteran leadership role on a rebuilding team. Gibson will be 38 years old this upcoming season but will still likely see the field occasionally.
#5 Kyle Lowry – 37 years old
Kyle Lowry struggled to make an impact for the Miami Heat last season. The veteran guard will also make $29.6 million next year, according to Spotrac. However, when Lowry is healthy and playing, he remains one of the best two-way guards in the NBA.
The veteran’s ability to defend multiple positions, run the offense and knock down clutch shots in critical moments ensures that he remains a productive player despite entering the latter stages of his career. Lowry will turn 38 in March 2024.