We rightfully marvel at LeBron James’ capacity to stay one of many NBA’s greatest gamers at age 40, however he is not the one veteran thriving in skilled basketball. In truth, the oldest former NBA participant nonetheless competing professionally is almost 5 years older than the Lakers star.
From Brazil to Saudi Arabia, quite a few NBA vets proceed their careers abroad. Here is a take a look at 20 tremendous previous gamers with NBA expertise at the moment underneath contract with worldwide groups.
Alex Garcia: 45 years previous
DOB: March 4, 1980
2024-25 stats: 13.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.7 rpg with Bauru (Brazil)
International Ranking rating: seventh in Brazil’s NBB
The oldest former NBA participant nonetheless lively would not look wherever near retirement in the event you ignored his beginning yr. Alex Garcia, born in 1980, continues to be one of many high gamers within the Brazilian league, arguably the strongest in Latin America. A nine-time Defensive Participant of the Yr in Brazil, FIBA basketball followers could bear in mind him shutting down then-reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on the 2019 World Cup. Much more spectacular, Garcia’s NBA profession was reduce brief primarily resulting from a torn ACL he suffered in 2004 as a New Orleans Hornets participant. Greater than twenty years later, Brazilian followers nonetheless have not seen the final of him.
Yuta Tabuse: 44 years previous
DOB: October 5, 1980
2024-25 stats: 0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg with Hyperlink Tochigi Brex (Japan)
International Ranking score: 303rd in Japan’s B.League
Earlier than Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura, the most important delight of Japanese basketball was Yuta Tabuse, a 5-foot-9 guard out of BYU-Hawaii who grew to become the primary Japanese-born participant within the NBA. It did not final lengthy, simply 4 video games for the in 2004, after which a number of years within the D-League ready for a chance that by no means absolutely arrived. In 2008, he returned to his homeland to hitch Hyperlink Tochigi Brex, the place he has remained ever since, profitable three championships alongside the way in which. At age 44, Tabuse enjoys a Udonis Haslem-like presence because the staff’s elder statesman.
Carlos Delfino: 42 years previous
DOB: August 29, 1982
2024-25 stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg with Benedetto XIV Cento (Italy)
Though Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, and Andres Nocioni had lengthy taking part in careers, the final lively survivor of Argentina’s golden technology that received the 2004 Olympics is definitely Carlos Delfino. Nonetheless showcasing his 3-and-D abilities within the Italian second division with Benedetto XIV Cento, a staff named after an 18th-century pope, Delfino retains taking part in greater than 11 years after a damaged foot sidelined him for 3 years. It was a significant setback, however not sufficient to maintain the previous Bucks starter from taking part in the sport he loves.
Marcelo Huertas: 41 years previous
DOB: Might 25, 1983
2024-25 stats: 14.6 ppg, 7.1 apg, 2.2 RPG with CB 1939 Canarias (Spain)
International Ranking rating: 1st in Spain’s ACB
You understand you’ve a powerful abroad profession when a Lakers stint is only a sidenote in your taking part in resume. That is the case for Marcelo Huertas, nonetheless a star within the Spanish League at age 41 and the oldest participant within the 2024 Paris Olympics males’s basketball competitors. In Los Angeles, the Brazilian playmaker’s fundamental declare to fame is being the primary participant traded by Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. In Spain, nevertheless, he is extra than simply an lively legend. He is at the moment main the ACB League in assists per recreation and has been its greatest participant in 2024-25 to date, per our International Ranking metric.
Donta Smith: 41 years previous
DOB: November 27, 1983
2025 stats: Venezuela’s SPB season begins on March 15
A second-round decide for the Hawks 21 years in the past, Donta Smith discovered a brand new basketball house when he landed in Venezuela again in 2010. Whereas he would nonetheless roam the world, taking part in on 4 completely different continents and incomes MVP seasons in Israel and Puerto Rico, the 6-foot-7 swingman grew to become a Venezuelan citizen in 2013, representing the Nationwide Staff and remaining lively in its home league. In 2025, he is making his return to skilled basketball after signing a take care of Trotamundos de Carabobo.
Al Thornton: 41 years previous
DOB: December 7, 1983
2024-25 stats: 16.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 apg with Peñarol de Mar del Plata (Argentina)
International Ranking rating: 2nd in Argentina’s LNB
An All-Rookie 1st Staff nod and stable numbers throughout 4 NBA years did not grant Al Thornton an extended profession within the league. After an abysmal mixed 85-211 file with the Clippers, Wizards, and Warriors, the place he performed 22 video games with Stephen Curry, the 6-foot-8 ahead went on an eventful abroad profession cut up between Asia and Latin America. Thornton is at the moment taking part in at an MVP degree within the Argentinian League with Peñarol de Mar del Plata, the place he has turn out to be a fan favourite within the final 5 years. In 2024-25, he is the highest scorer within the LNB, 13 years after first profitable the scoring title in Puerto Rico.
Marcus Vinicius: 40 years previous
DOB: Might 31, 1984
2024-25 stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg with Vasco Da Gama (Brazil)
International Ranking rating: thirty fourth in Brazil’s NBB
Like Alex Garcia, one other former New Orleans Hornets participant continues to be averaging double digits previous the age of 40 within the Brazilian League. Often called Marcus Vinicius within the NBA and easily as Marquinhos in Brazil, the veteran guard has performed most of his profession in his homeland whereas additionally being a staple of the nationwide staff for greater than a decade. His spectacular resume, together with six league championships, three MVP awards, and 10 All-NBB 1st Staff alternatives, solidifies his place as one of the embellished gamers in Brazilian basketball historical past.
Renaldo Balkman: 40 years previous
DOB: July 14, 1984
2025 stats: Puerto Rico’s BSN season begins on March 15
A Staten Island native, Renaldo Balkman was a first-round decide by the Knicks in 2006 throughout Isiah Thomas’ lackluster tenure. His six-year NBA profession by no means took off, except for the enjoyable truth of being concerned within the Carmelo Anthony commerce to New York. Since then, nevertheless, Balkman has loved an extended profession primarily cut up between Puerto Rico and the Philippines. At age 40, he’ll return for the upcoming season with Vaqueros de Bayamon within the Puerto Rican BSN, a contest he received in 2016 because the Finals MVP.
Chris Johnson: 39 years previous
DOB: July 7, 1985
2024-25 stats: 14.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg with New Taipei Kings (Taiwan)
A journeyman throughout his three-year NBA profession, Chris Johnson had stints with 4 groups as a defensive specialist within the paint. Since then, he has remained lively, taking part in for practically 20 squads throughout 4 continents. His eclectic résumé consists of profitable a Slam Dunk Contest in China and incomes an All-League nod in New Zealand throughout the 2022 season. Now, just some months shy of turning 40, Johnson is teaming up with Jeremy Lin within the Taiwanese League, suiting up for the New Taipei Kings.
Toney Douglas: 38 years previous
DOB: March 16, 1986
2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.2 rpg for FC Porto (Portugal)
International Ranking rating: twenty third in Portugal’s LPB
A former first-round decide, Toney Douglas had a nomadic eight-year NBA profession, taking part in for seven groups earlier than dropping his spot within the league in 2017. His profession has remained in fixed flux after the NBA years too. After stops in a few of Europe’s high leagues, he performed in Portugal, profitable seven titles in simply two years with Benfica. In an uncommon transfer, Douglas later signed with Porto, Benfica’s fiercest historic rival, the place he’s at the moment averaging double digits within the 2024-25 season.
Jeremy Pargo: 38 years previous
DOB: March 17, 1986
2024-25 stats: 27.8 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.3 rpg for Grindavik (Iceland)
Iceland isn’t precisely a hotspot for former NBA gamers, however it may well now benefit from the abilities of Jeremy Pargo. His skilled résumé consists of 86 NBA video games, a embellished European profession with 5 league championships in Russia and Israel, and a stint as a mentor with the G League Ignite. Nonetheless lively at 38, the purpose guard is taking part in and posting monster numbers for Grindavík, an 11-9 staff on the volcanic North Atlantic island. It’s a stunning transfer for a participant who was within the NBA simply 5 years in the past with the .
Marco Belinelli: 38 years previous
DOB: March 25, 1986
2024-25 stats: 12.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.4 apg with Virtus Bologna (Italy)
International Ranking rating: thirty fourth in Italy’s LBA
The oldest participant within the 2024-25 Euroleague is a widely known title to NBA followers. After a 13-year profession in the USA, which features a championship with San Antonio, Marco Belinelli returned in 2020 to his first skilled staff, Virtus Bologna, in Italy. Even at 38, “Beli” stays an elite offensive participant in Europe, profitable MVP honors within the Italian League final season. In a current interview, he said that he would resolve on retirement after the season, however there’s no signal that basketball has given up on him but.
Sonny Weems: 38 years previous
DOB: July 8, 1986
2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.6 apg with Shenzhen (China)
International Ranking rating: 67th in China’s CBA
Whereas Sonny Weems could also be considerably forgotten in the USA, his worldwide profession is well-remembered. With three championships in China, together with a Finals MVP run in 2020, he has cemented his standing as one of the profitable international gamers within the nation. Although his profession is clearly winding down and he’s not contending within the CBA, he’s nonetheless getting buckets. It’s been a stable second act for a natural-born scorer who by no means fairly caught within the NBA, regardless of averaging practically 10 factors per recreation with the Raptors within the 2010-11 season.
Hamady N’Diaye: 38 years previous
DOB: January 12, 1987
2024-25 stats: 1.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.4 apg for Hyeres-Toulon (France)
International Ranking rating: 240th in France’s LNB Professional B
A second-round decide in 2010, Hamady N’Diaye spent three seasons within the NBA, averaging simply 0.6 factors per recreation – the third-lowest scoring common for any participant with not less than 30 profession video games. Regardless of his restricted NBA influence, the Senegalese massive man has constructed a profitable abroad profession as a defensive specialist, incomes Defensive Participant of the Yr honors in China and two continental medals along with his Nationwide Staff. Now within the French second division, he stays lively as a task participant, averaging practically 9 minutes per recreation.
Milos Teodosic: 37 years previous
DOB: March 19, 1987
2024-25 stats: 3.8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 rpg with Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
International Ranking rating: 173rd within the Adriatic League
For years, Milos Teodosic’s European highlights had been shared with awe on each side of the Atlantic. The wildly entertaining and gifted Serbian level guard dominated FIBA competitions as a famous person till a subpar stint with the Clippers diminished a few of his mystique. Nonetheless, he stays one of the charismatic and expert European gamers of this century. Now again in Europe, Teodosic continues his profession along with his childhood favourite staff, Crvena Zvezda, taking part in within the Euroleague in a extra secondary function than throughout his heyday.
Nando De Colo: 37 years previous
DOB: June 23, 1987
2024-25 stats: 10.3 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 RPG for ASVEL Villeurbanne (France)
International Ranking rating: thirty fifth in France’s LNB ProA
Viewers of “Courts of Gold,” the Netflix documentary on the 2024 Paris Olympics males’s basketball competitors, could have noticed Nando De Colo with the French nationwide staff. Even in France’s present period of remarkable expertise, the veteran level guard had a assured roster spot properly into his 30s. Extensively thought to be one of many best Euroleague gamers in historical past, De Colo continues to compete on the European elite degree. Curiously, the maintained a qualifying provide for him for practically a decade till lastly withdrawing it in 2023.
Jonathan Gibson: 37 years previous
DOB: November 8, 1987
2024-25 stats: 30.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.4 apg with AlUla (Saudi Arabia)
Whereas Saudi Arabia has made massive splashes within the sports activities world by attracting a few of golf and soccer’s greatest names, the identical hasn’t occurred with basketball. Their international gamers sometimes include well-traveled veterans with in depth expertise in abroad skilled leagues. Jonathan Gibson is one such participant, having transient NBA stints with the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. With over a decade of expertise throughout varied Asian leagues (from China to Lebanon) the 37-year-old level guard now competes for a championship in Saudi Arabia’s basketball league.
Earl Clark: 37 years previous
DOB: January 17, 1988
2024-25 stats: 18.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 apg with Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers (Taiwan)
A former lottery decide who solely secured a beginning function when Mike D’Antoni famously benched Pau Gasol in favor of him on the Lakers, Earl Clark final appeared within the NBA in 2015. Since then, the previous Louisville ahead has traveled extensively all over the world, with quite a few stops throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Alongside the way in which, he received a Montenegrin league championship and earned Turkish All-Star honors. Now 37, Clark has discovered relative stability in Taiwan, at the moment taking part in in his second season with the Hsinchu Lioneers.
JaVale McGee – 37 years previous
DOB: January 19, 1988
2025 stats: Puerto Rico’s BSN season begins on March 15
Essentially the most recognizable participant on this listing for varied causes, JaVale McGee grew to become extra of a family title than he may need wished due to “Shaqtin’ a Idiot.” Nonetheless, his three NBA championships with the Warriors and Lakers, together with an Olympic gold medal with Staff USA, have offered way more significant moments of his profession. An NBA free agent since ending final season with Sacramento, McGee will return to motion this spring with Vaqueros de Bayamón, a Puerto Rican staff that has assembled a powerful international trio that includes McGee, Danilo Gallinari, and Chris Duarte.
DaJuan Summers: 37 years previous
DOB: January 24, 1988
2025 stats: Venezuela’s SPB season begins on March 15
A second-round decide by the Pistons in 2009, DaJuan Summers has hardly ever taken a break since departing the NBA in 2012 after a quick stint with New Orleans. From competing within the EuroLeague to taking part in in Iran, Japan, and most lately Iraq – whereas additionally claiming a league championship in Ukraine –it is nearly simpler to call nations the place the previous Georgetown star hasn’t performed. Including one more nation to his in depth resume, Summers is now becoming a member of Venezuelan staff Piratas de La Guaira for the upcoming season.