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We are in a new era in the NBA, as the league is getting flooded with young players who want to take the throne as the best player in the world. Cooper Flagg is already an established NBA star after winning Rookie of the Year, while a new wave of prospects, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Nate Ament, Cameron Boozer, and Koa Peat, is about to enter the league. But we still aren’t done with the veterans who are still making an impact. The other end of the spectrum features names such as LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Al Horford, and DeAndre Jordan. For this list, the youngest and oldest players are based on the current 2026-27 rosters, so let’s dive right in. *Two-way players are excluded Atlanta Hawks Youngest Player: Kingston Flemings (19) Oldest Player: CJ McCollum (34) Kingston Flemings, the No. 8 overall pick, represents the completely different direction Atlanta is taking with its roster. He enters the season without the burden of an established profile, but that also means every minute he gets will be about showing whether he belongs in the Hawks‘ long-term plans. My take: Flemings is the kind of young player Atlanta should be patient with. At the other end is the recently extended CJ McCollum, who somehow continues to age like the NBA forgot to tell him the league was getting younger. McCollum appeared in 76 games for Atlanta last season and averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, giving the Hawks a veteran scorer who can still manufacture offense. I love the contrast here. Atlanta has a young player learning the league and a seasoned bucket-getter who has already seen almost everything. Boston Celtics Youngest Player: Chris Cenac Jr. (19) Oldest Player: Mike Conley (38) Chris Cenac Jr., taken No. 27 overall, is in a pretty interesting situation in Boston, where young players don’t always get unlimited freedom but can learn from an organization that has spent years competing at the highest level. The franchise shouldn’t rush Cenac. Let him learn, defend, and figure out where he fits. Mike Conley is almost the polar opposite. The longtime point guard was 38 last season and averaged 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 54 games. His shooting fell to 33.5% from the field and 33.7% from three, so nobody is expecting the old Memphis version anymore. But Boston doesn’t need that player. Cenac may be Boston’s future; Conley is there to help make sure the post-Jaylen Brown present doesn’t get messy. Brooklyn Nets Youngest Player: Nolan Traore (20) Oldest Player: Julius Randle (31) Nolan Traore is only 20 years old, but has shown flashes of promise. He averaged 8.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game as a 6’3″ point guard last season. Brooklyn has reason to be excited about adding another young player who can develop alongside the rest of its rebuilding core. A rebuilding team has no reason to bury its youngest talent behind veterans, so Traore should get more than 22.2 minutes per game next season. Julius Randle, meanwhile, gives Brooklyn a very different type of presence upon his offseason arrival. He averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 79 games for Minnesota last season while shooting 48.1% from the field. That’s still legitimate production from a three-time All-Star. Having Randle as the oldest player isn’t a bad thing at all. Brooklyn gets a proven scorer who can carry the offense while the younger guys figure things out. Charlotte Hornets Youngest Player: Hannes Steinbach (20) Oldest Player: Pat Connaughton (33) Hannes Steinbach, taken No. 14 overall, enters Charlotte with a blank canvas. That’s actually an exciting position for a young player joining a franchise that is trying to build something around its younger talent. Charlotte should obviously prioritize development over short-term wins when it comes to the 6’11” center. Pat Connaughton is the veteran on the other end, and his 2025-26 numbers weren’t spectacular: 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 42 games, with a 40.4% three-point percentage. But his value isn’t really about putting up 10 points a night anymore. He’s an experienced NBA player who understands rotations, and that’s a useful guy to have around a young and rebuilding Hornets roster. Chicago Bulls Youngest Player: Noa Essengue (19) Oldest Player: Norman Powell (33) Noa Essengue enters Chicago as a young prospect without an NBA regular-season statistical profile from 2025-26 because he only played two games with an average of 3.0 minutes per game. That means the Bulls will have to evaluate the 6’8″ forward almost entirely through development, practice, and opportunity. I like the fit. Chicago needs young players who can grow into larger roles rather than simply filling out the roster. Norman Powell, meanwhile, gives the Bulls some serious veteran scoring. He averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 58 games last season while shooting 47.0% from the field and 38.0% from three. That’s a pretty impressive mark for the oldest player on the roster. Powell is still capable of being one of Chicago’s best offensive players. Cleveland Cavaliers Youngest Player: Meleek Thomas (20) Oldest Player: James Harden (37) Meleek Thomas somehow fell to No. 34 overall in the 2026 Draft. The Cavaliers have enough established talent that Thomas shouldn’t be forced into doing too much too quickly. But the Cavs will love having the confident, 6’5″ shooting guard coming in and getting shots up. He could be one of the contenders for an All-Rookie selection if he heats up enough. Then there’s James Harden, who is still putting up numbers that would make most guards very happy. Harden averaged 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 70 games last season, shooting 43.4% from the field, 37.5% from three, and 88.4% from the free-throw line. That is one heck of a veteran to have leading the charge on a stacked Eastern Conference team. Thomas gets a future Hall of Famer to learn from, while Cleveland gets an elite playmaker who can still control an offense. Dallas Mavericks Youngest Player: Cooper Flagg (19) Oldest Player: Kyrie Irving (34) Cooper Flagg being the youngest player on Dallas is almost funny considering what he accomplished last season. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 games, won Rookie of the Year, and looked like the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ future. Calling Flagg “young” doesn’t quite capture it anymore. He’s young, yes, but he’s already Dallas’ franchise and best player. Kyrie Irving gives Dallas one of the most fascinating age contrasts in the league. Irving did not play in the 2025-26 regular season after suffering a season-ending injury, so we don’t know how the future Hall of Famer could perform next season. But his presence alongside Flagg is enormously important. Flagg is the future; Kyrie is the veteran artist who can teach him how to create against NBA defenses. If Irving comes back healthy, Dallas could have a dangerous young-old combination. Denver Nuggets Youngest Player: Trevon Brazile (23) Oldest Player: Nikola Jokic (31) Trevon Brazile was taken No. 35 overall in the 2026 Draft, giving him the classic rookie challenge of proving himself in a rotation built around championship expectations. Denver isn’t rebuilding, so young players have to earn everything. That may actually be good for the 6’10” Brazile. If he can crack this rotation, he’ll have earned it. And then there’s Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in 65 games last season, leading the NBA in both rebounding and assists. He is easily the most important oldest player on this list. Jokic is the elder statesman and also the leader of the team, who happens to be the most dominant player. Brazile gets to learn basketball from the smartest player in the NBA. Detroit Pistons Youngest Player: Ebuka Okorie (19) Oldest Player: Javonte Green (33) Ebuka Okorie will be a pure development project as the No. 17 overall pick, and that’s fine for a Pistons team that has been building around a young core led by Cade Cunningham. Detroit should be thinking years ahead with Okorie rather than expecting immediate production from the teenager. Javonte Green, meanwhile, is an excellent example of why veteran age doesn’t necessarily mean limited usefulness. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in all 82 regular-season games for Detroit last season while shooting 38.1% from three. His 82-game availability was particularly valuable. Green may be the oldest Pistons player, but his durability and defensive mentality make him a useful veteran to have. Golden State Warriors Youngest Player: Brandin Podziemski (23) Oldest Player: Al Horford (40) Brandin Podziemski isn’t exactly a rookie anymore, even though he’s the youngest player on Golden State’s roster. He averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 82 games last season, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.1% from three. Golden State still thinks there’s more there. Podziemski’s all-around game gives the Warriors something beyond pure scoring. Al Horford, meanwhile, is 40 years old and still hanging around. He averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 45 games for the Warriors, knocking down 36.1% of his threes. That’s an incredible mark for a player on his last legs. The Warriors have basically paired one of their youngest useful players with one of the oldest smart players in the league. That’s a combination they should be happy about. Houston Rockets Youngest Player: Reed Sheppard (22) Oldest Player: Kevin Durant (37) Reed Sheppard’s second NBA season gave Houston plenty to like. He appeared in all 82 games and averaged 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while shooting 43.0% from the field and 39.4% from three. He also earned sixth-place voting for Sixth Man of the Year. That’s a fantastic foundation. Sheppard doesn’t need to become an All-Star overnight; he needs to keep becoming more reliable as he looks to take a big jump in his third season. Kevin Durant, of course, is the ridiculous veteran on the other side. At 37, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 78 games while shooting 52.0% from the field and 41.3% from three. That’s not normal aging. That’s Kevin Durant aging, a player who made the All-NBA Second Team. Sheppard and the rest of the Rockets core get the perfect two-way veteran to study. Indiana Pacers Youngest Player: Johnny Furphy (21) Oldest Player: TJ McConnell (34) Johnny Furphy appeared in 35 games for Indiana last season, averaging 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes while shooting 47.0% from the field. That’s a small sample in his second season, but there’s enough there to see why Indiana remains interested in his development. I like Furphy as a long-term project because he doesn’t need to force anything and has the natural confidence to be effective. T.J. McConnell is the perfect veteran counterpart. He averaged 9.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 56 games, shooting 53.8% from the field. He’s been one of the league’s most reliable reserve point guards for years. Indiana’s youngest player gets to learn from a guard whose entire career has been about doing things correctly. Los Angeles Clippers Youngest Player: Keaton Wagler (19) Oldest Player: Brook Lopez (38) Keaton Wagler will have his chance to introduce himself to the league after being taken No. 5 overall in the 2026 Draft. The Clippers are no longer an organization with championship aspirations, so the 6’6″ shooting guard has a chance to make every opportunity count. My take: Wagler needs to embrace being the young guy who isn’t shy to fight for his position, because opportunities will come. Brook Lopez is about as useful an old-school veteran as a young player could ask for. He averaged 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 75 games last season while shooting 36.0% from three. That’s a pretty good example for a young center or forward to follow, but even Wagler can learn how the big man prepares at practice. Los Angeles Lakers Youngest Player: Cameron Carr (21) Oldest Player: Kevon Looney (30) It is almost certain that No. 24 overall pick Cameron Carr can’t wait to have NBA regular-season experience. For the Lakers, that means his development will be worth monitoring closely. Los Angeles is a franchise where young players can suddenly find themselves under a microscope. The 6’5″ Carr needs to block out the noise and focus on earning his minutes, because the talent is there. Kevon Looney, meanwhile, brings three championship rings and 11 years of NBA experience to the other end of the roster. He averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 21 games last season. Those numbers aren’t going to sell jerseys, but that’s not why Looney is valuable. He’s the veteran big who understands playoff basketball, positioning, and winning. Every young Laker should be picking his brain. Memphis Grizzlies Youngest Player: Cameron Boozer (19) Oldest Player: Taj Gibson (41) Cameron Boozer is one of the most fascinating names on the entire list because he is expected to be a contender for Rookie of the Year as the No. 3 overall pick. He’s entering the league as a highly anticipated young prospect, and Memphis will have to balance expectations with patience. The Grizzlies mustn’t put the weight of the franchise on a teenager. Let Boozer develop into himself, because the 6’9″ forward can probably be an excellent all-around player in due time. Taj Gibson is practically the living definition of NBA longevity. At 41, he averaged 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 10 games last season. The numbers aren’t the point. Gibson has spent 17 years learning the league. If Memphis wants Boozer to understand what professional preparation looks like, it couldn’t ask for a better veteran presence. Miami Heat Youngest Player: Ryan Conwell (22) Oldest Player: Klay Thompson (36) Ryan Conwell’s first season will be about establishing himself in a notoriously demanding Heat environment. Honestly, that’s a great place for a young player to learn. Miami won’t hand the 6’4″ shooting guard anything, but if he earns his minutes, they’ll mean something for the No. 37 overall pick. Klay Thompson gives Miami an entirely different type of experience as he looks to be on his last legs. He is one of the greatest shooters of his generation who had a down year last season (11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 38.3% 3-PT FG), and the Heat added him during an offseason to bolster the dynamic duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. That’s a pretty reputable player to have as your oldest guy. Overall, Conwell gets to learn from someone who has played in huge games and knows exactly what championship-level preparation looks like. Milwaukee Bucks Youngest Player: Nate Ament (19) Oldest Player: Caris LeVert (32) Nate Ament arrives in Milwaukee as a 6’10” forward who was taken with the No. 13 overall pick. He’s young enough that the Bucks should resist the temptation to make his first season about box-score production. Give him structure, give him reps, and see what develops. Caris LeVert averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 60 games last season, shooting 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from three. Those aren’t superstar numbers, but Milwaukee isn’t asking him to be one. LeVert’s value is his experience and versatility, and that’s exactly what a young player such as Ament can benefit from. Minnesota Timberwolves Youngest Player: Joan Beringer (19) Oldest Player: Rudy Gobert (34) Joan Beringer, 6’11”, has potential, but he is very raw after averaging only 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game on 66.4% shooting in 40 appearances. Minnesota has built a team capable of competing now, so the challenge will be developing Beringer without disrupting the existing rotation. I like that setup. He can learn from a winning team rather than having to carry a rebuilding one. Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Rudy Gobert remains an enormous presence at the other end of the spectrum. He averaged 10.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 76 games last season while shooting 68.2% from the field. He’s also a four-time Defensive Player of the Year. If Beringer is a big man, there may not be a better defensive mentor anywhere on this list. New Orleans Pelicans Youngest Player: Jeremiah Fears (19) Oldest Player: DeAndre Jordan (38) Jeremiah Fears already has NBA experience despite being the youngest player on the Pelicans. He played all 82 games in 2025-26 and averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while shooting 43.4% from the field. That’s a very encouraging starting point. He doesn’t need to become a star immediately; New Orleans needs to keep adding layers to his game. DeAndre Jordan is 38, and he averaged 4.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 12 games last season while shooting 65.6% from the field. His role is obviously limited now, but his career resume is enormous. Fears represents the future; Jordan represents nearly two decades of NBA knowledge. That’s a fun locker-room pairing, even if we aren’t sure why the Pelicans are continuing to pay the veteran center for two more seasons. New York Knicks Youngest Player: Pacome Dadiet (21) Oldest Player: Jordan Clarkson (34) Pacôme Dadiet played 29 games for New York last season and averaged 1.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in just 4.7 minutes per game. That’s not enough playing time to make sweeping conclusions, but his youth is the important part. I want to see the Knicks give Dadiet a real opportunity during the regular season, since the playoffs will be the goal for the stars next season. A player can’t develop if he’s permanently glued to the bench. Jordan Clarkson, meanwhile, is still capable of providing instant offense. He averaged 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 72 games last season. That’s down from his peak scoring years, but the Knicks aren’t necessarily asking him to be that guy. Clarkson is exactly the type of player a playoff team likes to keep around. Oklahoma City Thunder Youngest Player: Thomas Sorber (20) Oldest Player: Alex Caruso (32) Thomas Sorber is yet another intriguing developmental piece for an organization that has become one of the league’s best at maximizing young talent. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 Draft didn’t play a game due to injury, but the 6’9″ big man clearly has talent to offer. Honestly, this is probably one of the best spots for a young player. Oklahoma City has shown it can develop talent without rushing it. Alex Caruso averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 56 games last season, while shooting 42.3% from the field and 29.3% from three. But the numbers don’t capture his defensive value. He’s a two-time All-Defensive selection and two-time champion. Sorber couldn’t ask for a better veteran teammate to teach him how to defend at the NBA level. Orlando Magic Youngest Player: Jase Richardson (20) Oldest Player: Nikola Vucevic (35) Jase Richardson has raw talent and I have always believed in him. The Magic already have an interesting young core, so Richardson doesn’t need to walk in and immediately become a 15 PPG scorer. I’d rather see him learn how to fit into winning basketball first, boosting his averages (4.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game) from last season. Nikola Vucevic is the veteran on the other side, and his 2025-26 numbers remain respectable: 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 64 games, along with a 36.9% three-point stroke. Vucevic has been through just about every version of NBA basketball imaginable. Vucevic is definitely aging and isn’t the same All-Star who once played for the Magic, but he is still important enough. Philadelphia 76ers Youngest Player: Labaron Philon Jr. (20) Oldest Player: LeBron James (41) Labaron Philon Jr., taken No. 22 overall as a 6’4″ point guard, is one of the more interesting young players to watch simply because of the talent around him. Philadelphia’s roster is loaded with veteran star power, so Philon won’t have to carry the burden immediately. That’s a luxury. Let the kid learn from the stars around him. And then there’s LeBron James. The oldest player on Philadelphia’s roster (and in the NBA) averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 60 games last season while shooting 51.5% from the field. At 41, he’s still producing like a high-level NBA player. Philon, and everyone else on the Sixers roster, gets to learn from arguably the greatest basketball mind of his generation. That’s a cheat code for any player in the modern NBA. Phoenix Suns Youngest Player: Koa Peat (19) Oldest Player: Dillon Brooks (30) Koa Peat, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, enters Phoenix with his first opportunity to establish himself against NBA competition. The Suns will have to resist the urge to judge him too quickly. Young players need room to fail, and Peat should get that room because he is a 6’8″ forward who is as raw as they come. Dillon Brooks, meanwhile, is hardly your typical veteran role player. He averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 56 games last season, while shooting 43.5% from the field and 34.4% from three. He’s physical, confident and never short on opinions. Love him or hate him, Brooks knows how to impact the game and the Suns are happy to have him. Portland Trail Blazers Youngest Player: Yang Hansen (21) Oldest Player: Jrue Holiday (36) The 7’1″ Yang Hansen was taken No. 16 overall in the 2025 Draft and he has a solid all-around skillset, so the intrigue is obvious. Young international big men are always fascinating because the transition to NBA speed, strength and physicality can take time. The Chinese center only averaged 2.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.2 blocks per game in 7.0 minutes per game over 43 games, so he should get more opportunities next season. Jrue Holiday is almost the perfect veteran for a young team. He averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 53 games last season while shooting 45.1% from the field and 37.8% from three. Add his defensive reputation and championship experience, and you’ve got a veteran who can influence the game without needing to dominate the ball. Sacramento Kings Youngest Player: Darius Acuff Jr. (19) Oldest Player: Zach LaVine (31) Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, has a chance to become the face of the Kings franchise. The Kings need to figure out what kind of player he can become, and if it goes well, he can be a cornerstone. The 6’3″ point guard will have the opportunity to generate points and assists for a struggling franchise next season, and we hope the losses won’t influence him game negatively. Zach LaVine averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 39 games last season before his season ended following hand surgery. He shot 47.9% from the field and 39.0% from three. If healthy, he’s still one of the most dangerous scoring options on this roster. Acuff gets a veteran scorer to study, while LaVine gets a chance to show there’s plenty left in the tank before he hits free agency. San Antonio Spurs Youngest Player: Jayden Quaintance (19) Oldest Player: Harrison Barnes (34) Jayden Quaintance may not be in a better organization for a young player to develop than the Spurs. San Antonio has built around Victor Wembanyama and is already operating at a championship level. Let the 6’10” Quaintance absorb the Spurs’ defensive principles and learn from Wembanyama because that is one of the best things for the 19-year-old. Harrison Barnes is the veteran on the other end, and he averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 77 games last season while shooting 38.8% from three. He may no longer be the 20-point scorer he once was, but his consistency and championship experience matter. Barnes is exactly the veteran a young Spurs roster needs. Toronto Raptors Youngest Player: Allen Graves (20) Oldest Player: Kyle Anderson (32) Allen Graves, a 6’9″ forward, enters Toronto as the No. 19 overall pick, so his rookie season will be about figuring out where his strengths translate. The Raptors have invested heavily in All-Star talent, including Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard, which means Graves has an opportunity to grow within a broader developmental plan. Kyle Anderson averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 43 games last season while shooting 53.0% from the field and 36.4% from three. His scoring doesn’t jump off the page, but that’s never really been Anderson’s calling card. He’s a connective player, a smart defender, and a veteran who can make the game easier for his teammates in limited spurts. Utah Jazz Youngest Player: Darryn Peterson (19) Oldest Player: Jusuf Nurkic (32) Darryn Peterson’s arrival gives the Jazz another fascinating young building block. Utah has spent years accumulating young talent, and Peterson is another piece that could eventually become part of the franchise’s cornerstone. The No. 2 overall pick has legitimate All-Star potential, and we expect him to show that level at some point next season. Jusuf Nurkic provides the veteran counterweight at 6’11”. His role has changed considerably over the years, but his experience as a physical interior big remains useful. For next season, Nurkic gets another opportunity to help a young roster understand the physical side of the league. Washington Wizards Youngest Player: AJ Dybantsa (19) Oldest Player: Khris Middleton (35) AJ Dybantsa, 6’9″ and 217 lbs, has the template to become an NBA superstar, which is why he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2026 Draft. The highly anticipated young forward gets his first taste of NBA basketball and has an opportunity to become the face of the Wizards’ rebuild. Dybantsa’s rookie numbers will likely be impressive, and his growth into a Carmelo Anthony-Tracy McGrady archetype will be very interesting to follow. Khris Middleton is the veteran on the other end, and his 2025-26 season saw him average 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 63 games while shooting 42.0% from the field and 36.0% from three. Those numbers are a long way from his Milwaukee peak, but Middleton has championship experience and understands how to play alongside stars. Dybantsa could learn a lot from a veteran who has already been through the grind of winning it all.