While age is just a number, sportsmen have often seen their output and impact dwindle as they grow older, particularly in a physically-demanding sport like basketball, given its highly intense and fast-paced nature.

Like in other sports, longevity is hailed as one of the hallmarks of excellence in the NBA, and while the average player retires in their mid-30s, we have seen a select few not only defy the odds but also excel deep into the twilight of their careers.

Most recently, 38-year-old center/forward Al Horford played an integral role in the Boston Celtics' run to the 2024 NBA Championship — the franchise's first title success since defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in a six-game Finals series back in 2008.

With the 2024-25 regular season just three weeks away from tipping off, Sports Mole takes a look at the oldest players who will be taking part in the upcoming campaign, as the 10 oldest players to ever grace the league.

WHO IS THE OLDEST CURRENT NBA PLAYER?

When LeBron James made his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he was the second-youngest player in the NBA, but fast forward two decades later, the 39-year-old will head into the 2024-25 NBA season as the oldest player in the league.

Lebron, who turns 40 on December 30, holds this record for a second consecutive year following the departure of Udonis Haslem and Andre Iguodala, and ahead of his record-equalling 22nd season in the league, there are no signs of slowing down for the four-time NBA champion.

Drafted by the Cavs as the No. 1 overall pick, he quickly shot to global stardom, and after seven seasons in Cleveland, opted to sign for the Miami Heat as a free agent in one of the most followed and anticipated moves in the history of the league.

It was in Miami the Akron-born superstar stamped his name as one of the GOATs of the game as he led the Heat to four consecutive finals appearances and was a key part of the formidable trio comprising Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that delivered the championship in 2012 and 2013.

'King James', as he is often known, moved back to Cleveland in 2014 with the goal of bringing the championship to the franchise, and after his 2015 Finals heartbreak, he led the Cavs to their first-ever title one year later, teaming up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to beat the Golden States Warriors at the second time of asking in a thrilling seven-game series.

In the 2023-24 season, LeBron not only shot 54% from the field while averaging 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 25.7 points per game to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer — surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387-point tally set in 1989 — but he also led Team USA to gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

More milestones are sure to follow in the upcoming season too, including the unique distinctions of becoming the first player to play in the NBA as both a teenager and a 40-year-old, and likely being part of the first father-son duo alongside the newly-drafted Bronny James.

While LeBron leads the way for the oldest players in the league, he is one of four who will be 39 when the new season gets underway, alongside PJ Tucker of the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors' Chris Paul and Taj Gibson of the Detroit Pistons.

WHO IS THE OLDEST NBA PLAYER OF ALL TIME?

The oldest player to ever play in the NBA remains Nat Hickey, who, while serving as coach of the Providence Steamrollers in the 1947–48 season, activated himself as a player and made two appearances, the second of which came just two days shy of his 45th birthday.

In a poor campaign where the Steamrollers finished with a 4-25 record, Hickey opted to play the final two games of the season but failed to make any meaningful impact, shooting 0-6 from the field across both games and scoring just two points from three free-throw attempts.

At the age of 44 years, 224 days, Kevin Willis is the second-oldest player in NBA history while Robert Parish, who holds the record for most games played (1,611), ranks third on the list at 43 years, 254 days.

Here is a list of the 10 oldest players to feature in the NBA.

1. Nat Hickey — 45 years, 363 days
2. Kevin Willis — 44 years, 224 days
3. Robert Parish — 43 years, 254 days
4. Vince Carter — 43 years, 45 days
5. Udonis Haslem — 42 years, 363 days
6. Dikembe Mutombo — 42 years, 300 days
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 42 years, 58 days
8. Bob Cousy — 41 years, 150 days
9. Herb Williams — 41 years, 129 days
10. John Stockton — 41 years, 35 days

With the 2024-25 NBA season set to get underway on October 22, 2024, check out the fixtures for the campaign, including pre-season schedule, standout matches, key dates, festive fixtures and notable duels.