The 2024-25 NBA season is set to showcase plenty of young talent including superstar Victor Wembanyama and No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, but it’s the league’s veterans who often hold the key to a team’s success. Every franchise relies on its oldest player for leadership, experience, and poise in critical moments and it leads one to wonder who the oldest player on each NBA team is. Looking ahead to next year, here is the elder statement for every franchise.
- Atlanta Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic – 32 Years Old
- Boston Celtics: Al Horford – 38 Years Old
- Brooklyn Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic – 35 Years Old
- Charlotte Hornets: Taj Gibson – 39 Years Old
- Chicago Bulls: Torrey Craig – 33 Years Old
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson – 33 Years Old
- Dallas Mavericks: Markief Morris – 35 Years Old
- Denver Nuggets: DeAndre Jordan – 36 Years Old
- Detroit Pistons: Tim Hardaway Jr. – 32 Years Old
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry – 36 Years Old
- Houston Rockets: Jeff Green – 38 Years Old
- Indiana Pacers: James Johnson – 37 Years Old
- Los Angeles Clippers: P.J. Tucker – 39 Years Old
- Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James – 39 Years Old
- Memphis Grizzlies: Marcus Smart – 30 Years Old
- Miami Heat: Kevin Love – 36 Years Old
- Milwaukee Bucks: Brook Lopez – 36 Years Old
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Joe Ingles – 37 Years Old
- New Orleans Pelicans: C.J. McCollum – 33 Years Old
- New York Knicks: T.J. Warren – 31 Years Old
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Alex Caruso – 30 Years Old
- Orlando Magic: Cory Joseph – 33 Years Old
- Philadelphia 76ers: Kyle Lowry – 38 Years Old
- Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant – 36 Years Old
- Portland Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant – 30 Years Old
- Sacramento Kings: DeMar DeRozan – 35 Years Old
- San Antonio Spurs: Chris Paul – 39 Years Old
- Toronto Raptors: Garrett Temple – 38 Years Old
- Utah Jazz: Patty Mills – 36 Years Old
- Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas – 32 Years Old
Atlanta Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic – 32 Years Old
At 32, Bogdanovic remains a steady presence for the Atlanta Hawks. Averaging 16.9 points and shooting 37.4% from three in the 2023-24 season, he continues to be a key offensive option off the bench, providing scoring punch and floor spacing. While not the oldest veteran by league standards, his leadership on a young Hawks team is invaluable because they are undergoing a roster shift at the moment led by Zaccharie Risacher.
Boston Celtics: Al Horford – 38 Years Old
The oldest player on the Boston Celtics, Al Horford, has shown no signs of slowing down despite nearing 40. Playing 26.8 minutes per game last season, he’s still a defensive anchor, grabbing 6.4 rebounds and adding 1.0 blocks per game. His basketball IQ and leadership are irreplaceable for Boston’s title aspirations, even as his offensive numbers—8.6 points per game—start to taper off.
Brooklyn Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic – 35 Years Old
Bojan Bogdanovic continues to fill it up for the Nets, averaging 15.2 points while shooting 39.8% from deep last season. Despite his age, he’s one of the team’s most reliable scoring options and fits perfectly within the Nets’ offensive schemes. His veteran presence also provides stability as the team transitions into its next phase which could be a rebuilding one.
Charlotte Hornets: Taj Gibson – 39 Years Old
At 39, Taj Gibson is the elder statesman in Charlotte for the Hornets, mainly seeing limited minutes as a veteran mentor. His 2023-24 stats—1.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game—aren’t eye-popping, but his locker room presence is critical in developing the Hornets’ young frontcourt players that need a fresh leader in the locker room.
Chicago Bulls: Torrey Craig – 33 Years Old
Torrey Craig is a defensive stopper and a glue guy for the Bulls, playing 19.8 minutes off the bench last season. In 2023-24, he averaged 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, providing the kind of versatile wing defense that Chicago values in a season where their hopes of being competitive rely on defense and depth.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson – 33 Years Old
Tristan Thompson returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a veteran presence, contributing 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in a limited role last year. His experience with the team’s previous championship run makes him a key locker-room voice as the Cavs aim to re-establish themselves as Eastern Conference contenders.
Dallas Mavericks: Markief Morris – 35 Years Old
Markieff Morris has been a versatile role player for Dallas, bringing toughness and veteran savvy to a young Mavericks squad. Playing 8.3 minutes per game last season, Morris was mainly sent to the floor in blowouts but at 35, he has the experience behind him to be a mentor off the court as well.
Denver Nuggets: DeAndre Jordan – 36 Years Old
Jordan continues to serve as the backup center for the 2023 NBA champion Nuggets, averaging 4.4 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game in limited minutes. His experience and size still make him valuable, especially in matchups that demand physicality and rim protection but the Nuggets will need to keep Nikola Jokic on the floor to maximize their chances of winning.
Detroit Pistons: Tim Hardaway Jr. – 32 Years Old
Hardaway Jr. hopes to bring veteran scoring to a rebuilding team in the upcoming first season with the Detroit Pistons. His ability to knock down threes and create his own shot has helped balance the Pistons’ offense, making him a leader for a team that needs to find a way to win more than 14 games.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry – 36 Years Old
Even at 36, Stephen Curry continues to defy time, averaging 26.4 points and 5.1 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. His shooting remains as lethal as ever, and his leadership on the Warriors is crucial as they look to contend for another title. Curry’s ability to control games with his shooting and off-ball movement still makes him one of the most dangerous players in the league, and he is still in the conversation for being a top 10 player in the world despite his age.
Houston Rockets: Jeff Green – 38 Years Old
The ageless Jeff Green is still delivering solid minutes for the Houston Rockets, contributing 16.8 minutes per game as a veteran presence on a young team. His versatility and experience are key assets as he mentors Houston’s budding talent and provides occasional scoring outbursts because he averaged 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Indiana Pacers: James Johnson – 37 Years Old
At 37, James Johnson continues to be a gritty presence for the Indiana Pacers, even if he will hardly appear in an NBA game next season. While his offensive numbers will almost certainly be modest, his leadership and defensive toughness are what the Pacers can look towards if they need it.
Los Angeles Clippers: P.J. Tucker – 39 Years Old
P.J. Tucker’s time with the Clippers could be up sooner rather than later because both parties have mutually agreed to part ways as they work towards a resolution. It is clear that head coach Ty Lue is not interested in utilizing Tucker, at his advanced age, in his rotation any longer. Tucker can still defend at a high level and provide valuable bench minutes so we expect a title-contender to be interested in acquiring his services eventually.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James – 39 Years Old
LeBron James continues to defy age, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in the 2024-25 season. At 39, he remains one of the most impactful players in the NBA, with his basketball IQ, leadership, and ability to dominate games still unmatched. James will still be a top 10 player in the world for the Los Angeles Lakers as he approaches his 40th birthday which is beyond imaginable.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marcus Smart – 30 Years Old
The youngest on this list at 30, Marcus Smart is Memphis’ defensive heart, averaging 14.5 points and 4.3 assists per game while locking down the perimeter last season. His tenacity and leadership on a relatively young team are pivotal as the Grizzlies push for a deeper playoff run with Ja Morant returning to the court.
Miami Heat: Kevin Love – 36 Years Old
Kevin Love continues to be an efficient contributor for the Heat, posting 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. His shooting and rebounding off the bench add a veteran touch, and his championship experience is crucial in Miami’s postseason pushes because they need as many bodies as they can get in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks: Brook Lopez – 36 Years Old
Still a key defensive anchor for the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook Lopez averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 2023-24 which are great numbers for a starting center. His rim protection and ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting remain central to Milwaukee’s system even as if he is past his prime at 36 years old.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Joe Ingles – 37 Years Old
Joe Ingles, now 37, hopes to continue in a reserve role for the Timberwolves next season. His playmaking and sharpshooting make him a valuable contributor off the bench, while his veteran leadership helps guide Minnesota’s younger core led by Anthony Edwards. With Karl-Anthony Towns gone, the Timberwolves need their shooting and Ingles can provide that.
New Orleans Pelicans: C.J. McCollum – 33 Years Old
Still one of the Pelicans’ most reliable scorers, C.J. McCollum averaged 20.0 points and 4.6 assists per game last season. His shot creation and leadership are critical as New Orleans looks to find consistency and health in a season full of promise. McCollum will do his thing next year so the majority of the pressure will be on Zion Williamson to deliver.
New York Knicks: T.J. Warren – 31 Years Old
T.J. Warren hopes to bring some veteran scoring off the bench for the Knicks, posting 3.7 points per game in 11 appearances with the Timberwolves last season. While injuries have limited his minutes over the past few seasons, his ability to score from experience makes him a valuable piece in New York’s rotation although he will be used for benchwarmer minutes.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Alex Caruso – 30 Years Old
Caruso has emerged as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s elder statesman at 30, which shows how young the group is. Averaging 10.1 points and 1.7 steals per game last season, his leadership and toughness make him a key part of OKC’s promising future as they continue to grow because there might not be a better defensive point guard in the league not named Jrue Holiday.
Orlando Magic: Cory Joseph – 33 Years Old
Cory Joseph, in his role as a backup guard, has provided steady play and veteran leadership over the past few seasons. Averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 assists per game, his experience is a stabilizing force in a backcourt full of young talent right now in Orlando with the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Kyle Lowry – 38 Years Old
Kyle Lowry continues to make his mark in the NBA even if he is well past his prime. Last season, Lowry contributed 8.1 points and 4.2 assists per game in 28.2 minutes per game and while he won’t get as many chances next season, he can still play. Lowry’s leadership and clutch play remain key assets for a Philadelphia 76ers team looking to make a deep playoff run with its championship hopes after signing Paul George.
Phoenix Suns: Kevin Durant – 36 Years Old
Despite being 36, Kevin Durant is still one of the league’s top scorers and best players, averaging 27.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 2023-24. Durant’s elite shot-making and versatility make him the go-to option in Phoenix’s offense as they pursue a title although the rest of the roster might not match up with the best in the Western Conference.
Portland Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant – 30 Years Old
At 30, Jerami Grant leads the Blazers with his versatile scoring and defense, putting up 21.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season. As Portland enters a new era, Grant’s experience is crucial in balancing the team’s youth movement and he might be the best two-way talent on the roster right now.
Sacramento Kings: DeMar DeRozan – 35 Years Old
DeRozan, now 35, continues to be a reliable mid-range scorer for the Kings, averaging 24.0 points per game last season. Showing he can still score with the best in the league, DeRozan’s offensive versatility and veteran leadership are invaluable for Sacramento as they look to build on recent playoff success and push for a goal past the first round in 2024-25.
San Antonio Spurs: Chris Paul – 39 Years Old
Chris Paul, at 39, will be the floor general for the San Antonio Spurs, after averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in 26.4 minutes per game last season. Paul’s basketball IQ and leadership are instrumental in guiding San Antonio’s young core led by French superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Toronto Raptors: Garrett Temple – 38 Years Old
Garrett Temple brings experience and defense to the Toronto Raptors, playing a limited role but offering guidance to younger players. His 2023-24 stats—3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds—don’t reflect his off-court impact, where he helps mold Toronto’s emerging team led by Scottie Barnes.
Utah Jazz: Patty Mills – 36 Years Old
Patty Mills continues to provide a scoring spark in the NBA, averaging 4.0 points per game last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. His leadership and ability to hit clutch shots remain invaluable as the Utah Jazz looks to remain competitive in a deep Western Conference.
Washington Wizards: Jonas Valanciunas – 32 Years Old
At 32, Jonas Valanciunas is a veteran presence in the Wizards’ frontcourt and the team’s biggest summer acquisition. Averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season, his size and rebounding ability are key assets for a team in transition, and his leadership helps guide Washington’s young roster.
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