Our annual rundown of the 10 oldest NBA players heading into the new season (2015-2016 this time) includes two players from the San Antonio Spurs (Tim Duncan & Manu Ginobili), two from the Los Angeles Clippers (Pablo Prigioni and Paul Pierce) and two from the Minnesota Timberwolves (Kevin Garnett & Andre Miller). Chris Andersen, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Vince Carter complete the list of the league’s most elderly men.
Chris Andersen, Miami Heat – 37
Born on July 7, 1978, Andersen is entering his 14th NBA season and fourth with the Miami Heat. He has played for the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans and then Nuggets again before arriving in Miami to win one championship in 2013. He has averaged 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 656 career games.
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks – 37
Nowitzki has been in the NBA since 1998, playing all of his seasons for the Dallas Mavericks and owning almost every individual record for the franchise. Born on June 19, 1978, Nowitzki is one-time MVP and Finals MVP as well, winning the award in 2011 after leading the Mavericks to an NBA championship. He’s averaged 22.2 points and 7.9 rebounds in 1265 career games.
Paul Pierce, Los Angeles Clippers – 38
Born on October 13, 1977, Pierce begins his 18th NBA season with his third team in three years. After playing in Boston with the Celtics from 1998 to 2013, including winning a championship in 2008, Pierce began moving around to find a title. One year with Brooklyn, another with the Wizards, now with the Clippers. He’s averaging 20.7 points with 5.8 rebounds in 1250 career games.
Jason Terry, Houston Rockets – 38
Born on September 15, 1977, Terry is entering his 17th NBA season and his second playing for the Houston Rockets. He has been with the Hawks, Mavericks, Celtics and Nets before signing with Houston in 2014. He helped the Mavericks win a championship in 2011. He’s averaging 14.8 points in 1213 career games.
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs – 38
Ginobili arrived at the NBA in 2002, at the age of 25. He had already won pretty much anything up for grabs in Europe. In the NBA he’s done quite well too, winning four NBA titles with the Spurs, and will now start his 14th season with the team. In 865 games, Ginobili is averaging 14.3 points per game. Ginobili was born on July 28, 1977.
Pablo Prigioni, Los Angeles Clippers – 38
Like Ginobili, Prigioni is from Argentina, and also played in Europe before arriving in the NBA. The difference is Prigioni made the switch when he was already 34. He’s been in the league since 2012, playing for the Knicks, Rockets and now the Clippers. In 211 games, he’s averaging 3.8 points. Prigioni was born on May 17, 1977.
Vince Carter, Memphis Grizzlies – 38
Carter was born on January 26, 1977. He’s been in the NBA since 1998, and is entering his 18th NBA season, second with the Grizzlies. He’s been moving around quite a lot over the last five or six years, playing in Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas and now Memphis since 2009. Prior to that he was on the Nets and Raptors, where he had his best seasons. In 1214 career games Carter has averaged 19.4 points, but last season was the first time his scoring average dropped to single digits, playing only 16.5 minutes a night, scoring 6.5 points per game.
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves – 39
When people talk about how much a player means to the locker room, it also means he’s not doing a whole lot of good on the court. Entering his 20th NBA season, Garnett is doing his retirement tour where it all began for him after straying in Boston and Brooklyn since 2007, including winning a championship with the Boston Celtics on his first season. An MVP in 2004, Garnett has 1424 career games, averaging 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds. Garnett was born on May 19, 1976.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – 39
One can’t start writing about Duncan without connecting the dots to Garnett. They’ve been in the league for around the same time (KG has one more season) but the difference between their current form is astounding. Duncan is still one of the best big men in the league, having something of a renaissance over the last few years, that included picking up his fifth NBA title with the Spurs, the only team he’s ever played for. In 1331 career games, Duncan has averaged 19.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. Duncan was born on April 25, 1976.
Andre Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves – 39
Born on March 19, 1976, Miller is entering his 17th NBA season. It’ll be a first for him with the Timberwolves, with his career going through Cleveland, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland, the Clippers, Washington and Sacramento. This is the first season for him on top of this list, coming in second behind Steve Nash a year ago (although Nash didn’t get to start the season). Miller has averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 through his 1265 career games.