The Greatest Games By 40-Year-Old NBA Players

With two minutes remaining in the Lakers-Raptors game earlier this week, a fan screamed at LeBron and told him he only needed one more rebound for a triple-double. When James secured that 10th rebound to become the oldest player in NBA history to record back-to-back triple-doubles, he turned and pointed at the fan to acknowledge that he was listening.

LeBron James points to fan for telling him to get the rebound for his triple double 😂

After the game, a reporter asked the 39-year-old star how it feels to still play at such an elite level.

"It's pretty cool that with the amount of miles I've put on the tires & lack of tread, that I'm still able to get up & down the highway.... I've been blessed by the man above with some out-of-this-world ability since the beginning and then just took full advantage of it, never disrespect what he's given me and see how long I can do it. But I won't do it until the wheels fall off, I'll tell you that."

After two days of rest, LeBron was back on the court against the Grizzlies and had an even more impressive performance: 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. This triple-double made him the oldest player in NBA history with three consecutive triple-doubles by four years! The previous record of age 34 belonged to him and his former head coach, Jason Kidd.

UPDATE (11/5/2024): LeBron just recorded his fourth consecutive triple-double.

Watching LeBron break records and dominate players half his age had me thinking about the greatest performances by former 39 to 40-year-old players of the past. Here are some of my favorites.

HE DID WHAT AT 39?

JAMAL CRAWFORD'S FINAL MASTERPIECE (39-020)

On April 9, 2019, J-Crossover came off the Suns' bench and made history by becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points and the first to score 50 with four teams.

• CHI (2004): 50 PTS, 18-34 FG, 6 3PT
• NYK (2007): 52 PTS, 20-30 FG, 8 3PT
• GSW (2008): 50 PTS, 14-26 FG, 5 3PT
• PHX (2019): 51 PTS, 18-30 FG, 7 3PT

Without knowing a player's age, if I told you that player scored 50 during a four-game streak averaging 31.3 points, you would probably say they have many years left in the league. Well, no team signed him after this season-ending game until the short-handed Brooklyn Nets called to give him a deal to finish off the 2020 season. Just six minutes into his Nets debut, he injured his hamstring, and that was the final game of his NBA career.

Jamal Crawford's MUST-SEE 51 PTS At Age 39 | April 9, 2019

MICHAEL JORDAN VS MONSTER MASH (39-349)

Mike was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel near the end of 2002. He scored a career-low 2 points on December 15 and less than 15 points in eight other games that month. Then, in early January, he put up an 8-point performance in a loss to the Nets. It was a painful sight to see the GOAT struggling to score 20 while racking up losses on a team that had Ty Lue, Christian Laettner, and Bryon Russell (yes, the guy MJ pushed during The Shot) in the starting lineup, and Kwame Brown coming off the bench.

But on February 1, All-NBA Jamal Mashburn and the New Orleans Hornets were in town, and the Wizards were without Larry Hughes and Jerry Stackhouse, so MJ (just two weeks away from turning 40) had to step up. He did and lit them up for a season-high 45 points with 6 assists in the win.

Remember that this was the early 2000s when most teams barely scored 100, so 45 points could be half a team's total offensive production. On the same night, the Spurs beat the Pistons 67-65.

Michael Jordan Highlights vs Hornets (2003.02.01) - 45pts, OWNING HORNETS EVER SINCE!

REGGIE MILLER'S LAST DUEL WITH KOBE (39-206)

Youngsters who only know of Reggie because of TV have no idea how great he was. Unfortunately for him, his ringless fingers and far-from-mind-blowing stats and resume aren't going to change many minds. But I witnessed his career and understand why he was Steph Curry's favorite player growing up and why Ray Allen still considers him "the best shooter I have ever seen in my life."

In his final game against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (the team that beat his Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals), the 39-year-old outscored Kobe 39-12 in a win for Indiana. The season-high of 39, including six free throws in the final 25 seconds, was his highest point total in almost five years.

"It's always fun to play against a guy like Reggie because he thinks the game. He doesn't just go out there and play," Bryant said. "When you match up against a person like that, you have to do your homework. He had a magnificent career and a Hall of Fame career. My hat goes off to him and I wish him the best."

HOW KOBE BRYANT STUDIED REGGIE MILLER!

MOSES FOR THREE (39-279)

How does a 6-point performance make this list? Moses Malone might be the most underrated player in NBA history. The average youngster might underrate players like Reggie Miller but they don't even know who Moses is. And this legend won three MVP awards and a Finals MVP within five seasons, is arguably the greatest rebounder ever, and was a 30-point scorer.

The one thing he didn't do was make threes. He had seven heading into the final game of his 19-year career. And during his seven-minute final performance, he threw up a 75-foot hail mary at the end of the first quarter and swished it. In typical Moses fashion, he didn't even smile.

The craziest age story about Moses' short time with the Spurs is that the franchise considered activating 46-year-old assistant coach Dave Cowens to fill the role they hoped the injured Moses would.

HE DID WHAT AT 40?

MJ CELEBRATES TURNING 40 WITH THE NETS (40-004)

I told myself not to include too many MJ and LeBron games since they have the majority of the top-scoring games of players aged 39 and 40, but I have to include the game when MJ became the first 40-year-old to score 40 in an NBA game.

On February 21, 2003, just four days after MJ turned the big 4-0, he dropped 43 points, 10 boards and 4 steals on a New Jersey team that would play in the NBA Finals. The final two of the 43 points was a game-winning layup after blowing by Richard Jefferson, avoiding a swipe from Jason Kidd and a block from Kenyon Martin.

"I don't feel like 40. I feel good. I feel like I can compete, and on certain nights, I can compete with the best.”

The best stat to show how well he was feeling at 40 aren't his points but his minutes; MJ averaged 40 minutes a game at 40 and had two games with over 50 minutes: 51 and 52!

40 Years Old Michael Jordan Snaps For 43 Pts vs Nets | MUST WATCH | VintageDawkins

MANU TAKES OVER ONE LAST TIME (40-163)

My original Manu pick was January 8, 2018, when the Greatest 6th Man ever candidate knocked down six threes on his way to scoring 26 points and becoming the first 40-year-old in NBA history to have multiple 20-point games off the bench.

Instead, I'm going with April 8, 2018, when Manu took over the 4th quarter against the Blazers in his third to last NBA regular season game. He scored 10 of his 17 points in the final quarter, including eight straight, leaving 21-year-old starter Dejounte Murray in disbelief.

“If you saw me I was cheering, cheering, cheering. He’s forty years old, I mean what do you want from him?"

Coach Pop was also happy, but he's seen a lot of Manu takeovers over the past two decades.

“It was a pretty exciting time, but Manu has done that over the years. It was great,"

40 Yr-Old Manu Ginobili Full Highlights vs Trail Blazers (2018.01.07) - 26 Pts, VINTAGE!

DIRK'S FINAL HOME GAME (40-294)

Dirk is one of the few legends who played their entire career with one team. And on April 10, 2019, the German Wunderkind (I prefer Dirk Diggler) played his final home game in Dallas. He scored the team's first 10 points and finished with a season-high 30 points and eight boards in a win against the Suns.

The 14 x All-Star did miss 20 of his 31 shots and 9 of his 15 threes, but like Kobe in his final game, he earned the green light to take as many shots as he wanted. The fans loved it and really went crazy when he ended his night with his signature one-legged fadeaway.

Less than 24 hours later, he put up 20 and 10 for his 486th double-double in his final NBA game.

Dirk Nowitzki Drops 30 Points in FINAL Home Game | April 9, 2019

HE DID WHAT AT 42?

UDONIS HASLEM WAS POSSESSED (42-304)

The Miami Heat captain averaged just 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over the previous nine seasons going into his final one. He then played just six regular season games, averaging 0.5 points and 1.3 rebounds, before his career's final regular season game on April 4, 2023.

In that final game, he scored 24 points and knocked down a career-high three 3s!!! Considering he only had six threes in 20 seasons, it's insane to think he would make three in 24 minutes. But he did. He even got up to throw down an alley-oop to the delight of many of his former teammates and Heat legends in the building.

The only thing crazier than UD making threes in his final game is him playing 20 years in the league after going undrafted.

Udonis Haslem Leads Heat To Victory In His Final Regular Season Game! | April 9, 2023

KAREEM VS THE BAD BOYS (42-056)

I can't have a list like this without arguably the greatest scorer/player of all-time, who played until he was 42.

On June 11, 1989, the Lakers were down 0-2 to the Bad Boy Pistons, and Magic Johnson was injured. Magic tried to play in Game 3 but only lasted five minutes before checking out. This meant someone had to step up, and that person was 42-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Playing in his second to last game of his career, Cap put up a team-high 24 points and a game-high 13 rebounds! Those 24 points included multiple skyhooks over Bill Laimbeer, and those rebounds included boards between Bill, Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn, and James Edwards. It was an inspirational performance rarely mentioned because of the era, and the Lakers got swept.

1989 NBA Finals Gm 3 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar: 24Pts/13Rbs/1Ast

HE DID WHAT AT 43?

VINCE CARTER ENDS THE NBA SEASON (43-045)

March 11, 2020 is known by many as the day COVID (insert Rudy Gobert joke) shut the NBA down. With news of the NBA suspending the rest of the season and 19 seconds remaining in a game between the Hawks and Knicks, fans started chanting, "We want Vince! We want Vince!"

The 43-year-old reserve checked in, Trae Young gave him the ball, and Vince swished a three-pointer for the final bucket of his career, which spanned four different decades. The Hawks did lose the game, and Vince only had five points, but to see the NBA season and a Hall of Fame career end on a happy note made it worthy of this list.

After the game, a very emotional Vince reflected on what could be his last NBA game and said, "I'm appreciative...the game's been good."

Vince Carter checks in and hits a 3 in the final seconds of what might be his last NBA game!

THE CHIEF STARTED FOR DA BULLS (43-118)

When you think of Robert Parish, you probably think of the Boston Celtics and the most serious face in the league's history. You probably don't think of The Chief playing with the Bulls, but he spent his final season in Chicago and picked up another championship ring because of it. The most shocking thing about the 43-year-old center's time with arguably the greatest team of all time is he started three games for them.

On December 26, 1996, the Chief started a game against Dikembe Mutombo and the Atlanta Hawks. He outscored Deke 8-7, had one more block, and his ten boards were just one less than the 29-year-old All-Star center.

Robert Parish’s 2nd to Last NBA Game (1997)

HE DID WHAT AT 44?

KEVIN WILLIS AND HIS MUSCLES (44-224)

NBA Champion Kevin Willis doesn't get enough credit for being a solid power forward in the '90s. He averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks between 1992-1995 with seven games of 30+ points and 20+ rebounds. The 1 x All-Star also doesn't get enough credit for being the second-oldest player to ever play in an NBA game.

At age 44, Willis and his frightening muscles suited up for the Dallas Mavericks during the final month of the 2007 NBA season. And in his final NBA game, he played 14 minutes and put up an impressive line of 6 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal in a win against a young Sonics team.

Just look at this photo of 44-year-old Willis and you can see that he took his health seriously. You can also see why his nickname was T-Rex.

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