Veteran Ballers: Oldest Players to Hit the Court in an NBA Game

The record for the oldest player to ever participate in an NBA game is held by Nat Hickey, who achieved this feat in 1948 at the age of 45 years and 363 days. Hickey, who was serving as the coach of the Providence Steamrollers at the time, decided to step onto the court for two games, making him the oldest player in NBA history.

On Jan. 27, 1948, Hickey — three days shy of his 46th birthday — made his BAA/NBA debut as a player and scored two points in a loss to the St. Louis Bombers. The next day, on Jan. 28, 1948, he suited up again and played three minutes in a loss to the New York Knicks. It would be Hickey’s final game as a player, and no one has ever taken the NBA floor at an older age since.

While Hickey only played two career games, the next four oldest players to see action in an NBA regular-season game are Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Vince Carter and Udonis Haslem, who all played 20 or more NBA seasons.

Nat Hickey: 45 years, 363 days

(Jan. 28, 1948, Providence at New York)

Kevin Willis: 44 years, 224 days

(April 18, 2007, Dallas at Seattle)

Robert Parish: 43 years, 232 days

(April 19, 1997, Chicago vs. New York)

Vince Carter: 43 years, 45 days

(March 11, 2020, Atlanta vs. New York)

Udonis Haslem: 42 years, 304 days

(April 9, 2023, Miami vs. Orlando)

Parish, Haslem and Willis also rank among the top five oldest players to appear in an NBA Playoff game, joining legendary big men Dikembe Mutombo and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Robert Parish: 43 years, 254 days

(May 11, 1997, Chicago at Atlanta)

Udonis Haslem: 42 years, 363 days

(June 7, 2023, Miami vs. Denver)

Dikembe Mutombo: 42 years, 300 days

(April 21, 2009, Houston at Portland)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 42 years, 58 days

(June 13, 1989, L.A. Lakers vs. Detroit)

Kevin Willis: 41 years, 252 days

(May 15, 2004, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers)

Both Haslem and Abdul-Jabbar’s last games came in the NBA Finals, making them the oldest two players to play in the Finals, followed by Herb Williams.

Udonis Haslem: 42 years, 363 days

(June 7, 2023, Miami vs. Denver)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 42 years, 58 days

(June 13, 1989, L.A. Lakers vs. Detroit)

Herb Williams: 41 years, 129 days

(June 25, 1999, New York vs. San Antonio)