The oldest former NBA players still playing today

We rightfully marvel at LeBron James' ability to remain one of the NBA's best players at age 40, but he's not the only veteran thriving in professional basketball. In fact, the oldest former NBA player still competing professionally is nearly five years older than the Lakers star.

From Brazil to Saudi Arabia, numerous NBA vets continue their careers overseas. Here's a look at 20 super old players with NBA experience currently under contract with international teams.

Alex Garcia: 45 years old

DOB: March 4, 1980

2024-25 stats: 13.6 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.7 rpg with Bauru (Brazil)

Global Rating ranking: 7th in Brazil's NBB

The oldest former NBA player still active wouldn't look anywhere close to retirement if you ignored his birth year. Alex Garcia, born in 1980, is still one of the top players in the Brazilian league, arguably the strongest in Latin America. A nine-time Defensive Player of the Year in Brazil, FIBA basketball followers may remember him shutting down then-reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 2019 World Cup. Even more impressive, Garcia's NBA career was cut short primarily due to a torn ACL he suffered in 2004 as a New Orleans Hornets player. More than two decades later, Brazilian fans still haven't seen the last of him.

Yuta Tabuse: 44 years old

DOB: October 5, 1980

2024-25 stats: 0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg with Link Tochigi Brex (Japan)

Global Rating rating: 303rd in Japan's B.League

Before Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura, the biggest pride of Japanese basketball was Yuta Tabuse, a 5-foot-9 guard out of BYU-Hawaii who became the first Japanese-born player in the NBA. It didn't last long, just four games for the Phoenix Suns in 2004, and then several years in the D-League waiting for an opportunity that never fully arrived. In 2008, he returned to his homeland to join Link Tochigi Brex, where he has remained ever since, winning three championships along the way. At age 44, Tabuse enjoys a Udonis Haslem-like presence as the team's elder statesman.

Carlos Delfino: 42 years old

DOB: August 29, 1982

2024-25 stats: 11.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg with Benedetto XIV Cento (Italy)

Although Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, and Andres Nocioni had long playing careers, the last active survivor of Argentina's golden generation that won the 2004 Olympics is actually Carlos Delfino. Still showcasing his 3-and-D skills in the Italian second division with Benedetto XIV Cento, a team named after an 18th-century pope, Delfino keeps playing more than 11 years after a broken foot sidelined him for three years. It was a major setback, but not enough to keep the former Bucks starter from playing the game he loves.

Marcelo Huertas: 41 years old

DOB: May 25, 1983

2024-25 stats: 14.6 ppg, 7.1 apg, 2.2 RPG with CB 1939 Canarias (Spain)

Global Rating ranking: 1st in Spain's ACB

You know you have an impressive overseas career when a Lakers stint is just a sidenote in your playing resume. That's the case for Marcelo Huertas, still a star in the Spanish League at age 41 and the oldest player in the 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball competition. In Los Angeles, the Brazilian playmaker's main claim to fame is being the first player traded by Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. In Spain, however, he's more than just an active legend. He's currently leading the ACB League in assists per game and has been its best player in 2024-25 so far, per our Global Rating metric.

Donta Smith: 41 years old

DOB: November 27, 1983

2025 stats: Venezuela's SPB season starts on March 15

A second-round pick for the Hawks 21 years ago, Donta Smith found a new basketball home when he landed in Venezuela back in 2010. While he would still roam the world, playing on four different continents and earning MVP seasons in Israel and Puerto Rico, the 6-foot-7 swingman became a Venezuelan citizen in 2013, representing the National Team and remaining active in its domestic league. In 2025, he's making his return to professional basketball after signing a deal with Trotamundos de Carabobo.

Al Thornton: 41 years old

DOB: December 7, 1983

2024-25 stats: 16.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 apg with Peñarol de Mar del Plata (Argentina)

Global Rating ranking: 2nd in Argentina's LNB

An All-Rookie 1st Team nod and solid numbers during four NBA years didn't grant Al Thornton a long career in the league. After an abysmal combined 85-211 record with the Clippers, Wizards, and Warriors, where he played 22 games with Stephen Curry, the 6-foot-8 forward went on an eventful overseas career split between Asia and Latin America. Thornton is currently playing at an MVP level in the Argentinian League with Peñarol de Mar del Plata, where he has become a fan favorite in the last five years. In 2024-25, he's the top scorer in the LNB, 13 years after first winning the scoring title in Puerto Rico.

Marcus Vinicius: 40 years old

DOB: May 31, 1984

2024-25 stats: 14.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg with Vasco Da Gama (Brazil)

Global Rating ranking: 34th in Brazil's NBB

Like Alex Garcia, another former New Orleans Hornets player is still averaging double digits past the age of 40 in the Brazilian League. Known as Marcus Vinicius in the NBA and simply as Marquinhos in Brazil, the veteran guard has played most of his career in his homeland while also being a staple of the national team for more than a decade. His impressive resume, including six league championships, three MVP awards, and 10 All-NBB 1st  Team selections, solidifies his place as one of the most decorated players in Brazilian basketball history.

Renaldo Balkman: 40 years old

DOB: July 14, 1984

2025 stats: Puerto Rico's BSN season starts on March 15

A Staten Island native, Renaldo Balkman was a first-round pick by the Knicks in 2006 during Isiah Thomas' lackluster tenure. His six-year NBA career never took off, aside from the fun fact of being involved in the Carmelo Anthony trade to New York. Since then, however, Balkman has enjoyed a long career primarily split between Puerto Rico and the Philippines. At age 40, he will return for the upcoming season with Vaqueros de Bayamon in the Puerto Rican BSN, a competition he won in 2016 as the Finals MVP.

Chris Johnson: 39 years old

DOB: July 7, 1985

2024-25 stats: 14.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.0 apg with New Taipei Kings (Taiwan)

A journeyman during his three-year NBA career, Chris Johnson had stints with four teams as a defensive specialist in the paint. Since then, he has remained active, playing for nearly 20 squads across four continents. His eclectic résumé includes winning a Slam Dunk Contest in China and earning an All-League nod in New Zealand during the 2022 season. Now, just a few months shy of turning 40, Johnson is teaming up with Jeremy Lin in the Taiwanese League, suiting up for the New Taipei Kings.

Toney Douglas: 38 years old

DOB: March 16, 1986

2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.2 rpg for FC Porto (Portugal)

Global Rating ranking: 23rd in Portugal's LPB

A former first-round pick, Toney Douglas had a nomadic eight-year NBA career, playing for seven teams before losing his spot in the league in 2017. His career has remained in constant flux after the NBA years too. After stops in some of Europe’s top leagues, he played in Portugal, winning seven titles in just two years with Benfica. In an unusual move, Douglas later signed with Porto, Benfica’s fiercest historical rival, where he is currently averaging double digits in the 2024-25 season.

Jeremy Pargo: 38 years old

DOB: March 17, 1986

2024-25 stats: 27.8 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.3 rpg for Grindavik (Iceland)

Iceland isn’t exactly a hotspot for former NBA players, but it can now enjoy the talents of Jeremy Pargo. His professional résumé includes 86 NBA games, a decorated European career with five league championships in Russia and Israel, and a stint as a mentor with the G League Ignite. Still active at 38, the point guard is playing and posting monster numbers for Grindavík, an 11-9 team on the volcanic North Atlantic island. It’s a surprising move for a player who was in the NBA just five years ago with the Golden State Warriors.

Marco Belinelli: 38 years old

DOB: March 25, 1986

2024-25 stats: 12.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.4 apg with Virtus Bologna (Italy)

Global Rating ranking: 34th in Italy's LBA

The oldest player in the 2024-25 Euroleague is a well-known name to NBA fans. After a 13-year career in the United States, which includes a championship with San Antonio, Marco Belinelli returned in 2020 to his first professional team, Virtus Bologna, in Italy. Even at 38, "Beli" remains an elite offensive player in Europe, winning MVP honors in the Italian League last season. In a recent interview, he stated that he would decide on retirement after the season, but there’s no sign that basketball has given up on him yet.

Sonny Weems: 38 years old

DOB: July 8, 1986

2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.6 apg with Shenzhen (China)

Global Rating ranking: 67th in China's CBA

While Sonny Weems may be somewhat forgotten in the United States, his international career is well-remembered. With three championships in China, including a Finals MVP run in 2020, he has cemented his status as one of the most successful foreign players in the country. Though his career is clearly winding down and he’s no longer contending in the CBA, he’s still getting buckets. It’s been a solid second act for a natural-born scorer who never quite stuck in the NBA, despite averaging nearly 10 points per game with the Raptors in the 2010-11 season.

Hamady N'Diaye: 38 years old

DOB: January 12, 1987

2024-25 stats: 1.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.4 apg for Hyeres-Toulon (France)

Global Rating ranking: 240th in France's LNB Pro B

A second-round pick in 2010, Hamady N'Diaye spent three seasons in the NBA, averaging just 0.6 points per game – the third-lowest scoring average for any player with at least 30 career games. Despite his limited NBA impact, the Senegalese big man has built a successful overseas career as a defensive specialist, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in China and two continental medals with his National Team. Now in the French second division, he remains active as a role player, averaging nearly 9 minutes per game.

Milos Teodosic: 37 years old

DOB: March 19, 1987

2024-25 stats: 3.8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.9 rpg with Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Global Rating ranking: 173rd in the Adriatic League

For years, Milos Teodosic's European highlights were shared with awe on both sides of the Atlantic. The wildly entertaining and talented Serbian point guard dominated FIBA competitions as a superstar until a subpar stint with the Clippers diminished some of his mystique. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most charismatic and skilled European players of this century. Now back in Europe, Teodosic continues his career with his childhood favorite team, Crvena Zvezda, playing in the Euroleague in a more secondary role than during his heyday.

Nando De Colo: 37 years old

DOB: June 23, 1987

2024-25 stats: 10.3 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 RPG for ASVEL Villeurbanne (France)

Global Rating ranking: 35th in France's LNB ProA

Viewers of "Courts of Gold," the Netflix documentary on the 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball competition, may have spotted Nando De Colo with the French national team. Even in France's current era of exceptional talent, the veteran point guard had a guaranteed roster spot well into his 30s. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Euroleague players in history, De Colo continues to compete at the European elite level. Interestingly, the Toronto Raptors maintained a qualifying offer for him for nearly a decade until finally withdrawing it in 2023.

Jonathan Gibson: 37 years old

DOB: November 8, 1987

2024-25 stats: 30.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.4 apg with AlUla (Saudi Arabia)

While Saudi Arabia has made big splashes in the sports world by attracting some of golf and soccer's biggest names, the same hasn't happened with basketball. Their foreign players typically consist of well-traveled veterans with extensive experience in overseas professional leagues. Jonathan Gibson is one such player, having brief NBA stints with the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. With over a decade of experience across various Asian leagues (from China to Lebanon) the 37-year-old point guard now competes for a championship in Saudi Arabia's basketball league.

Earl Clark: 37 years old

DOB: January 17, 1988

2024-25 stats: 18.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 apg with Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers (Taiwan)

A former lottery pick who only secured a starting role when Mike D'Antoni famously benched Pau Gasol in favor of him on the Lakers, Earl Clark last appeared in the NBA in 2015. Since then, the former Louisville forward has traveled extensively around the world, with numerous stops across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Along the way, he won a Montenegrin league championship and earned Turkish All-Star honors. Now 37, Clark has found relative stability in Taiwan, currently playing in his second season with the Hsinchu Lioneers.

JaVale McGee - 37 years old

DOB: January 19, 1988

2025 stats: Puerto Rico's BSN season starts on March 15

The most recognizable player on this list for various reasons, JaVale McGee became more of a household name than he might have wanted thanks to "Shaqtin' a Fool." However, his three NBA championships with the Warriors and Lakers, along with an Olympic gold medal with Team USA, have provided far more meaningful moments of his career. An NBA free agent since finishing last season with Sacramento, McGee will return to action this spring with Vaqueros de Bayamón, a Puerto Rican team that has assembled an impressive foreign trio featuring McGee, Danilo Gallinari, and Chris Duarte.

DaJuan Summers: 37 years old

DOB: January 24, 1988

2025 stats: Venezuela's SPB season starts on March 15

A second-round pick by the Pistons in 2009, DaJuan Summers has rarely taken a break since departing the NBA in 2012 after a brief stint with New Orleans. From competing in the EuroLeague to playing in Iran, Japan, and most recently Iraq – while also claiming a league championship in Ukraine –it's almost easier to name countries where the former Georgetown star hasn't played. Adding yet another country to his extensive resume, Summers is now joining Venezuelan team Piratas de La Guaira for the upcoming season.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The oldest former NBA players still playing today