Often hailed as one of the most popular and prestigious basketball tournaments in the world, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is followed by billions of basketball aficionados from all over the world and has witnessed an undeniable growth in its popularity in the past few decades.
Apart from the spine-chilling rivalries, passionate fan base and a never-ending streak of high-octane action on the court, the star-studded lineup of legendary NBA players including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and many others have played a crucial role in elevating the stature of the National Basketball Association to an unparalleled extent on the global scale. The star-studded history of the National Basketball Association has witnessed numerous iconic basketball players who have defied the odds of their age and left their fans entirely shocked with their unmatched exploits on the court.
In this article we will take a look at the top four oldest NBA players who have grabbed enormous attention from hardcore basketball aficionados from all over the world for their phenomenal performances on the court.
Top 4 Oldest Basketball Players to ever Play in the NBA
Nat Hickey – 45 Years, 363 Days
The late Croatian-American professional basketball coach/player and baseball player, Nicholas J. “Nat” Hickey, often popularly referred to as “Nat Hickey”, is at the first spot in our list of the top four oldest National Basketball Association players who left the fans stunned by their dominant and match-winning exploits on the court.
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Often hailed as one of the most prominent basketball players in the history of the National Basketball Association, Nat Hickey was serving as the head coach of the Providence Steamrollers during the 1947–48 season when the team made the bold decision to switch him as a player for the remaining season. Only two days prior to his 46th birthday, Nat Hickey hit the hardwood for Providence Steamrollers and established himself as the oldest basketball player to ever play an NBA match at the age of 45 years and 363 days.
Kevin Willis – 44 Years, 224 Days
At the second spot in our list of the top four oldest NBA players to step on the hardwood and officially play a match, we have the American former professional basketball player “Kevin Willis”, who grabbed enormous fame for playing for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association.
At the age of 44 years and 224 days, Kevin Willis played his career’s final NBA match as a powerful forward/center for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2006–07 NBA season, establishing himself as the second-oldest basketball player to play an official NBA match. Kevin Willis was drafted 11th overall in the 1984 National Basketball Association Draft by the Atlanta Hawks and witnessed a remarkable 21-season NBA career, playing for eight different teams, including the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets.
Robert Lee Parish – 43 Years 232 Days
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four oldest National Basketball Association players who left the fans stunned with their dominant and match-winning exploits on the court, we have the legendary American former professional basketball player, Robert Lee Parish, often popularly referred to as “the Chief” by basketball aficionados from all over the world.
During his glorious National Basketball Association career that lasted from 1976 to 1997, Robert Lee Parish played for a total of four teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. Robert Lee Parish played his career’s final NBA game at the age of 43 years and 232 days and clinched a total of three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986) and earned nine All-Star selections and retired with a stunning 1,611 career games played.
Vince Carter – 43 Years, 45 Days
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four oldest NBA players who have grabbed enormous attention from the hardcore basketball aficionados from all over the world for their phenomenal performances on the court, we have the legendary American former professional basketball player, Vince Carter, who played for 22 seasons in the National Basketball Association.
As of July 2025, Vince Carter continued to be the only player to have played in the NBA in four different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s) and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. After a glorious National Basketball Association career that spanned over 22 seasons from 1998 to 2020, Vince Carter played for eight different teams and played his career’s final game for the Atlanta Hawks against the New York Knicks on 11 March 2020 at the age of 43 years and 45 days.
