Ranking The Best NBA Players By Age

When it comes to sports, sometimes age is just a number, as teenagers hoop even better than some veterans, or elder players defy father time with their craft and athleticism.

Obviously the NBA isn’t the exception to that trend. Rookies and veterans coexist on a nightly basis united by one thing: the desire to ball their hearts out.

Even so, there are some players that stand out from the rest of the pack because of their talents and contributions. Today, we’ll let you know about the best players by age:

19 – Zion Williamson

24.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 APG

Zion Williamson is one of the most entertaining and exciting specimens this league has ever seen. He’s a freak of nature that can jump off the roof and dominate most big men in the post. Moreover, he’s crafty and has a high basketball IQ and feel for the game on both ends of the court. If he stays healthy, he’ll be in the MVP conversation in no time. He’s the most NBA-ready talent we’ve seen in years.

Runner-up: RJ Barrett

20 – Ja Morant

17.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.0 APG

We’re all caught in the Zion Williamson hype, but Ja Morant is by no means less impressive. He’s athletic, strong, fast and smart and has proven to be a natural leader that won’t back down from a challenge. He’s got the physical tools to be Russell Westbrook 2.0 and the basketball IQ and playmaking skills to post Chris Paul-like numbers as well. The future is bright for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Runner-up: Jaren Jackson Jr

21 – Luka Doncic

28.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.0 SPG

We all expected Luka Doncic to be great, but nobody thought he’d be that good that fast. Obviously, he’s arguably the most experienced young player in the league, and he’s made sure to prove it by schooling defenders on a nightly basis. Doncic can do it all on the offensive end and he’s a legitimate MVP candidate already in just his second season in the NBA.

Runner-up: Trae Young

22 – Jayson Tatum

23.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG

Ever since making it to the league Jayson Tatum had shown glimpses of greatness. Those glimpses are becoming natural now. He’s the unspoken leader of the Boston Celtics, their go-to-guy, a young man you can trust to get a stop against the best in the world and then knock down a step-back three-pointer on the other end. Tatum has the potential to be

Runner-up: Brandon Ingram

23 – Devin Booker

26.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 6.4 APG

Devin Booker doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he plays for the Phoenix Suns. He’s one of the most complete and gifted scorers in the league and has improved in almost every aspect of his game year after year. His prime is still far ahead of him and that’s a scary thought, but he definitely needs more help around him if he wants to make the playoffs. Otherwise, he could try and force his way out of the desert.

Runner-up: Donovan Mitchell

24 – Karl-Anthony Towns

26.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.2 BPG

Karl-Anthony Towns have no flaws in his game, offensive-wise. He’s got elite footwork, a more-than-decent stroke from beyond the arc, and can clean both ends of the glass with ease. His character has been doubted from time to time but he’s trying his best to put his haters at ease by showing some teeth this season.

Runner-up: Kristaps Porzingis

25 – Giannis Antetokounmpo

29.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Giannis Antetokounmpo is on track to win his second MVP and he’s not even 26 years old. He’s put a lot of work on his craft ever since making it to the league and that’s why he’s elite now. Obviously his athleticism and length have helped him, but to say he’s not turned into an incredibly skilled player is just a lie. Giannis is a consistent jump shot away from being the best player in the world, and he’ll work to get there.

Runner-up: Joel Embiid

26 – Anthony Davis

26.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG

There has never been any kind of doubt about Anthony Davis’ talent. He’s a game-changer and a major factor every time he steps on the court. Obviously, injuries and durability have put some question marks over his head as a franchise player but if someone is worth the risk, that’s definitely Davis. He’s been having MVP-caliber seasons for years and now that he’s with the Lakers, maybe he’ll finally win one.

Runner-up: Bradley Beal

27 – Kyrie Irving

27.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.4 SPG

You can question Kyrie Irving’s attitude and leadership, but you can never question his drive and skills. He’s got arguably the best handles in the history of the game and is a guy that’ll just keep getting buckets regardless of who’s guarding him. He’s won everything but an MVP and is just 27 years old and he finally looks motivated to be at his best in Brooklyn. Hopefully, he’ll avoid further injuries and live up to his words.

Runner-up: Rudy Gobert

28 – Kawhi Leonard

27.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.8 SPG

Kawhi Leonard is so good that he’s not even playing full time and he’s still the guy everybody’s scared of come playoff time. He’s a lockdown defender that can contain the greatest scorers in the world and then embarrass them with a fadeaway. He brought back balance to the league by putting an end to the Big Three era and is now poised to fight for his second straight NBA Championship and the first in Los Angeles Clippers’ history.

Runner-up: CJ McCollum

29 – Damian Lillard

29.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.9 APG, 1.0 SPG

It took him a while, but Damian Lillard is finally starting to get recognition as one of the league’s finest. He’s a walking bucket and was putting together a hell of a run before falling down with an injury. He was almost single-handedly leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs scoring at a high clip. He’s also made great strides as a defender after being known as one of the worst defenders in the league earlier on his career.

Runner-up: Paul George

30 – James Harden

34.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.7 SPG

When it comes to putting the ball in the hoop, nobody does it better than James Harden. Since his departure from Oklahoma City, he has transformed into an offensive juggernaut for the Houston Rockets. The 2x scoring champ hasn’t averaged under 29-points per game since 2016 and he expands his arsenal every single season. Though he is in the middle of a rough stretch, he continues to be valuable to his team by making plays for others and drawing defenses to the perimeter.

Runner-up: Jimmy Butler

31 – Kevin Durant

27.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG

The game misses Kevin Durant a lot. He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer already and a top-3 scorer in the history of this game. Moreover, he put a lot of work in the gym to be a lockdown defender as well. He’s a guard trapped in the body of a center, an incredibly gifted scorer that can play and guard all five spots on the court with ease. Hopefully, he’ll come back as strong as usual after rehabbing his Achilles injury.

Runner-up: Stephen Curry

32 – Mike Conley

13.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.2 APG

Mike Conley is having a down year with the Utah Jazz. There were a lot of expectations about his move to the mountains but it feels like the system isn’t bringing the best out of him. Still, he’s one of the best backcourt defenders in the league and a guy that should’ve made multiple All-Stars throughout his career.

Runner-up: DJ Augustin

33 – Kyle Lowry

19.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.3 SPG

It took him a Championship but Kyle Lowry finally shut his doubters for good. He came up huge in the playoffs and the Finals and was one of the main reasons why the Toronto Raptors were so dominant all year long. He’s no longer that guy that disappeared in the clutch and deserves a lot of praise for the way he’s turned his career around.

Runner-up: Lou Williams

34 – Chris Paul

17.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.5 SPG

Everybody thought the Oklahoma City Thunder were doomed when they traded away Russell Westbrook. Well, Chris Paul thought otherwise and he’s turned them to a legit contender in the Western Conference. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career despite his age and if he manages to stay healthy he could put together a historic run in the playoffs. Don’t ever sleep on the point god.

Runner-up: LaMarcus Aldridge

35 – LeBron James

25.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 10.6 APG, 1.2 SPG

LeBron James keeps on defying father time. He’s playing at an elite level despite being in his 17th season. Hell, he’s even leading the league in assists for the first time on his career and you could make a strong case for him as the league’s MVP. Obviously, he doesn’t put up that much effort in the defensive end as in the past, but the Lakers have the league’s 2nd-best offense when he’s on the court and the 29th worst when he sits.

Runner-up: Marc Gasol

36 – Andre Iguodala

4.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.8 APG

Andre Iguodala is one of the best wing defenders in the world. He’s no longer a volume scorer but his teams just don’t need him to do that. He can check the best scorers in the league and you just know he’ll come huge in the clutch. He could really be the X-factor for the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

37 – Tyson Chandler

1.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.2 APG

Tyson Chandler was once considered one of the most dominant rebounders in the league. He was as solid as they come when it came to protecting the paint and a nightmare for opposing players when driving. His presence altered a lot of shots and there’s a reason why he won a Defensive Player of the Year award, although he’s likely to retire pretty soon now.

38 – Kyle Korver

6.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.2 APG

There are few people that could make a case for being a better shooter than Kyle Korver. Korver has always been money from beyond the arc and has to be considered one of the deadliest snipers ever. However, he’s also put a lot of work on his game and stopped being a defensive liability years ago. With that kind of shot, he can play in the league for many more years.

39 – Udonis Haslem

1.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.3 APG

According to Udonis Haslem himself, he’s tried to retire but the Miami Heat organization continues to want him around. He hasn’t been a steady contributor in years, but his veteran leadership and mentorship have always been welcome in their locker room. He’ll definitely have his jersey retired by the team once it’s all said and done.

43 – Vince Carter

4.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.8 APG

Vince Carter must not be a human being. He’s got to be a robot. Otherwise, there’s simply no explanation as to why he’s still able to take off and play in the best basketball league in the world at 43 years old. He’s definitely a Hall of Famer even though he never won an NBA Championship, and truth to be told, it looks like he could still play beyond this season.