Who Is the Oldest NBA Player in History?

We take a look at the oldest NBA player in history and how they managed to stay in the league for so long.

Robert Parish

Robert Parish is the oldest player in NBA history. He was born on August 30, 1953, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Parish played for the Warriors, Celtics, Hornets, and Bulls during his 21-year NBA career. He was a nine-time NBA All-Star and won three NBA championships.

Born in 1953

Robert Lee Parish (born October 30, 1953) is an American former professional basketball player. He played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 1997. Upon his retirement, he ranked as the NBA’s all-time leader in regular season games played (1,611). In 2017, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Played for the Warriors, Celtics, and Hornets

Robert Parish is an American former professional basketball player. He played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1976 to 1997. He is the NBA’s all-time leader in games played and is considered one of the greatest NBA centers of all time. Parish was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Parish was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He played for Centenary College of Louisiana from 1974 to 1976, and was drafted in the first round of the 1976 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors with the eighth overall pick. He played sparingly as a rookie behind future Hall of Famer Phil Smith. Playing time increased during his second season with 63 games as he averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Parish became a more prominent part of the Warriors’ lineup during his third season, averaging 12 points and 11 rebounds per game as he helped lead Golden State to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975. In Game 2 against the Washington Bullets, Parish set an NBA Finals record with 21 offensive rebounds, which helped him finish with 31 total rebounds in a 122-103 win; his 31 total rebounds were two shy of matching Wilt Chamberlain’s then-record 33 rebounds in an NBA Finals game, set during Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in 1968. The Warriors eventually lost to Washington in six games.

Parish averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game over his first four seasons with Golden State, playing an instrumental role on a team that also included stars Rick Barry and Bernard King.

Retired in 1997

Robert Parish is a retired American basketball player. He was born on August 30, 1953, in Shreveport, Louisiana. After attending high school in Louisiana, he played college basketball at Centenary College of Louisiana from 1971 to 1974. He was then drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft.

Parish played most of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, from 1980 to 1997. He won three NBA championships with the Celtics in 1981, 1984, and 1986. He also played for the Charlotte Hornets (then known as the Charlotte Bobcats) in his final season in 1996-97. In 1983-84, he was named an All-Star for the first time. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team three times (1981-82, 1982-83, and 1983-84).

When he retired in 1997, Parish was the NBA’s all-time leader in games played (1,611), a record he still holds today. He is also one of only two players (the other being Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to play in more than 1,600 NBA games without ever starting a single game. In 1996-97, Parish became only the second player in NBA history to play with seven different teams over his career (the other being Moses Malone). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Kevin Willis

As of the 2019-2020 NBA season, the oldest player in the league is Kevin Willis, who is currently 54 years old. Willis was born on September 6, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois. He played college basketball at Michigan State University before being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1984 NBA Draft.

Born in 1962

Kevin Willis is a retired American professional basketball player who was born on September 4, 1962, making him currently the oldest living NBA player. He was drafted 11th overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks and played for them till he was traded to the Miami Heat in 1994. Over his 21-year career, Willis played for 8 different teams and is one of only 4 players in NBA history to play at least 1,000 games with 7 or more teams. He averaged a double-double for 10 consecutive seasons and finished his career with 13,034 points and 10,395 rebounds.

Played for the Hawks, Heat, Warriors, and Raptors

At 43 years and 9 days old, Kevin Willis became the oldest player in NBA history when he played for the Atlanta Hawks against the Charlotte Hornets on November 11, 2007. Willis had previously been traded to the Hawks from the Miami Heat on October 26, 2007, along with Antoine Walker and Wayne Simien, in exchange for a package that included Al Horford, Josh Smith, and a future first-round draft pick.

Willis began his professional career in 1984 with the Detroit Pistons, but he only played in two games for them before being waived. He then spent time in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and USBL before finally catching on with the Atlanta Hawks in 1987. He would go on to play 11 seasons with the Hawks, becoming one of their most reliable players and earning a reputation as one of the best rebounders in the NBA.

Willis’s career took a turn for the worse in 2000 when he was involved in a fight with teammate Isaiah Rider during a practice session. The incident led to Willis being traded to the Miami Heat, where he struggled to find a consistent role. He was waived by the Heat midway through the 2003-04 season and ended up playing for several different teams over the next few years before finally retiring from the NBA in 2007.

Even though he is no longer playing professional basketball, Kevin Willis remains active within the basketball community. He currently serves as an assistant coach for The BOOM Shakalaka All Stars, a AAU team based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Retired in 2007

At 44 years and 9 days of age, Kevin Willis became the oldest player in NBA history when he stepped on the court for his final game on April 17, 2007. A center who was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1984, Willis played for eight different teams during his 21-year NBA career. He retired with more than 16,000 career points and 11,000 rebounds.

Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo is the oldest NBA player in history. He was born on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, Zaire. Mutombo played professional basketball for 18 years and is now retired. He is best known for his defensive skills, shot-blocking ability, and also for his humanitarian work.

Born in 1966

Dikembe Mutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Leopoldville, Congo (now Kinshasa, Congo Democratic Republic). He is the oldest of nine children. His parents, Biamba Marie Mutombo and Samuel Mutombo, were both teachers. Dikembe’s grandfather was a tribal chief who spoke no English. Dikembe translates to “thankful” in Swahili.

Played for the Nuggets, Hawks, 76ers, and Rockets

Dikembe Mutombo was born on June 25, 1966, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). He played basketball at Georgetown University and was drafted first overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1991. He went on to play for the Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Houston Rockets before retiring in 2009. At 7 feet 2 inches tall, he is one of the tallest players in NBA history.

Retired in 2009

Mutombo played in the NBA for 18 seasons with six different teams. He retired in 2009 after playing with the Houston Rockets, making him the oldest player in NBA history at the time. He is now a global ambassador for the NBA.

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Duncan was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a three-time NBA Finals MVP, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Born in 1976

Tim Duncan was born on April 25, 1976, in Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. Duncan is a professional basketball player who has played for the San Antonio Spurs since 1997. He is considered one of the best power forwards in NBA history and is a five-time NBA champion. Duncan is also a two-time MVP and a three-time Finals MVP. In addition to his individual accolades, he is also a 15-time All-Star and a 10-time All-NBA selection.

Played for the Spurs

Tim Duncan is an American former professional basketball player who played his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest power forwards of all time and has won five NBA championships. He is a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a 15-time NBA All-Star, and the only player in NBA history to be selected to both the All-Star and All-Defensive teams in all of his first 13 seasons.

Active

At 40 years old, Tim Duncan is the oldest player in the NBA. He’s also one of the most accomplished players in league history, having won five championships with the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Even though he’s getting up there in age, Duncan is still an effective player. He averaged 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season while playing just under 30 minutes per contest.