The NBA playoffs have featured both teenage rookies and players in their 40s, underscoring the league’s wide age range.
Players can enter the NBA at 18, and some appear in the postseason early in their careers, even if drafted by rebuilding teams with low title odds. While the league’s average retirement age hovers around 28, several players have extended their careers deep into their 30s and 40s.
Youngest NBA Player in Playoffs
Andrew Bynum remains the youngest player to appear in a playoff game. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers at 18 years and 191 days, logging under two minutes and missing his only shot attempt against the Phoenix Suns, on May 6, 2006.
Shaq vs. 18-year-old Andrew Bynum (2006) pic.twitter.com/Jy4Etgugtq
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) December 8, 2019
Jonathan Kuminga is the youngest player to start a playoff game. He started for the Golden State Warriors at 19 years and 213 days, finishing with 18 points in 17 minutes.
Kobe Bryant holds two separate postseason age records. At 18 years and 250 days, Bryant became the youngest player to score in a playoff game and the youngest to make a three-pointer.
Darko Miličić remains the youngest player to appear in the NBA Finals. Miličić entered a game for the Detroit Pistons at 18 years and 356 days, shortly before turning 19. With Detroit’s win, Miličić became the youngest NBA champion on record.
Oldest NBA Player in Playoffs
On the veteran side, Robert Parish played in a playoff game at 43 years and 254 days for the Chicago Bulls, collecting two rebounds in eight minutes against the Atlanta Hawks, on May 11, 1997. Parish also stands as the oldest player to score in a playoff game and to win an NBA title.
43 year-old Robert Parish beats the buzzer with the jam
— Dee4Three (@Dee4Three84) July 2, 2022
Parish career games played
1611 regular season
184 playoffs
9 All-Star Games
More
4x NBA Champ
HOF
28.4 Career MPG (Season)
33.6 Career MPG (Playoffs)
in his NBA career from 1976 to 1997 pic.twitter.com/1moSnlkWGc
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the oldest to start a postseason game, doing so for the Lakers at 42 years and 58 days.
In 2023, Udonis Haslem became the only player over 40 to appear in the NBA Finals since 2004. Haslem played for the Miami Heat at nearly 43 years old. The last player before Haslem to play in the Finals after 40 was Karl Malone, who did so with the Lakers in 2004.
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I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
