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LeBron James will be oldest player in the NBA for the first time in 2023-24 season

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James Foglio
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James Foglio Sports Editor

James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.

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Sports Editor

Updated04 Oct 2023

Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James will be oldest player in the NBA for the first time in 2023-24 season

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will become the oldest player in the NBA for the first time of his 20-year career in the 2023-24 season. The four-time NBA champ turns 39 in December.

Udonis Haslem (43) retired with the Miami Heat, and Andre Iguodala (39) remains unsigned. Besides James, not one player born in 1984 or prior is signed to an active roster.

According to a few NBA betting sites, the Los Angeles Lakers hold sixth-shortest odds to win next season’s championship in 2024. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.


Taj Gibson, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and P.J. Tucker were all born in 1985. Tucker turns 39 next May. During the offseason, he inked a three-year, $30 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Likewise, Gibson turns 39 next June. The USC product re-signed with the Washington Wizards in September. While Howard was never offered a deal with the Golden State Warriors, Paul was added in a trade with Washington.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is set to become the oldest player in the NBA for the first time in the 2023-24 season, turns 39 years old in December

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Lakers open the 2023-24 regular season at the Denver Nuggets. James will be 38 years and 298 days old when he begins his 21st NBA season.

During NBA Media Day on Monday, the four-time MVP reiterated his plan to continue playing in the league. “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank to give,” James told reporters. “I think it all starts with the mind, obviously.

“You know, the mind controls everything. I think being able to keep my mind fresh, so just … allows my body to kind of follow after that. Then able to continue to step into the gym and continue to prepare myself for another season. I felt like I had a heck of a summer.’’


James is set to become the sixth player to play in his 21st season or beyond — joining Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and Vince Carter, who has the all-time record with 22. If he plays into his 40s, Carter’s record will fall.

Plus, LeBron James could also become the first player in league history to receive a 20th All-Star selection and become a 20-time All-NBA member next season. The Lakers star is tied with Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections, with a total of 19.

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