Udonis Haslem is returning to the Miami Heat for a 19th season.
Cap is back for season 19 ⚓️
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) August 16, 2021
OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have re-signed forward Udonis Haslem.@MiamiHEAT // @ftx_us pic.twitter.com/236HvUFf5l
Undrafted in 2002, Haslem joined the Heat as a 23-year-old rookie in 2003. 18 years later, the 41-year-old Haslem will be the league's oldest player on opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season, which is set for Oct. 19, 2021.
Who are the oldest players entering the 2021-22 NBA season? Below, find the 20 oldest players on opening night of the upcoming season.
| Name | Team | Age* | DOB | NBA Exp. |
| Udonis Haslem | Miami Heat | 41 | 6/9/1980 | 19 |
| Andre Iguodala | Golden State Warriors | 37 | 1/28/1984 | 17 |
| Carmelo Anthony | Los Angeles Lakers | 37 | 5/29/1984 | 19 |
| LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | 36 | 12/30/1984 | 19 |
| Paul Millsap | Brooklyn Nets | 36 | 2/10/1985 | 16 |
| P.J. Tucker | Miami Heat | 36 | 5/5/1985 | 11 |
| Chris Paul | Phoenix Suns | 36 | 5/6/1985 | 17 |
| Taj Gibson | New York Knicks | 36 | 6/24/1985 | 13 |
| Trevor Ariza | Los Angeles Lakers | 36 | 6/30/1985 | 18 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | Brooklyn Nets | 36 | 7/19/1985 | 15 |
| Dwight Howard | Los Angeles Lakers | 35 | 12/8/1985 | 18 |
| Rajon Rondo | Los Angeles Lakers | 35 | 2/22/1986 | 16 |
| Kyle Lowry | Miami Heat | 35 | 3/25/1986 | 16 |
| George Hill | Milwaukee Bucks | 35 | 5/4/1986 | 14 |
| Goran Dragic | Toronto Raptors | 35 | 5/6/1986 | 14 |
| Garrett Temple | New Orleans Pelicans | 35 | 5/8/1986 | 12 |
| Al Horford | Boston Celtics | 35 | 6/3/1986 | 15 |
| Rudy Gay | Utah Jazz | 35 | 8/17/1986 | 16 |
| Jeff Green | Denver Nuggets | 35 | 8/28/1986 | 15 |
| Lou Williams | Atlanta Hawks | 34 | 10/27/1986 | 16 |
*Age on Oct. 19, 2021
Of note:
- Anthony, Haslem and James lead the league in experience as they each enter their 19th season, the trio were teammates at the 2004 NBA Rookie Challenge
- The Lakers have three of the league's five oldest players and six of the league's 12 oldest players
- In addition to Haslem, Miami's P.J. Tucker lands in the league's top 10
- Ariza, Howard and Iguodala are the three remaining members of the 2004 NBA Draft class
- Haslem, who was born on June 9, 1980, began his professional career in France before San Antonio Spurs rookie Joshua Primo was born on Dec. 24, 2002
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