Here Is When NBA Players Retire (+200 Players Analysis)

Recently, we wrote about the average soccer player’s retirement age. Today, we’re tackling a question as old as the league itself – when do NBA players hang up their jerseys and call it a day? It’s a topic that has seen much debate, with fans often left guessing when their favorite stars will bid farewell to the court.

In this analysis, we’ve compiled a list of over 200 players spanning various positions and eras to bring you the most comprehensive insight into the retirement age of NBA players. Here is the short summary:

The average retirement age for NBA players is around 36 years. Breaking it down by position: guards retire at 35, forwards at 35.2, and centers at 37.7 years. Centers often have longer careers because they don’t rely on speed and agility as much as other positions.

So, as we stand on the shoulders of giants, both literally and metaphorically, let’s dive into the data and see what story the numbers have to tell. Stay tuned as we unravel the mystery behind the curtain call of an NBA career, a moment that comes for all but remains unpredictable in its timing.

Average NBA retirement age

First things first, let’s talk averages. After analyzing a massive list of players, we found that the average retirement age for NBA players is 36 years. But hey, we didn’t stop there. We broke it down even further to give you the averages based on positions:

• Guards: 35 years
• Forwards: 35.2 years
• Centers: 37.7 years

Guards

Name	Age
Leandro Barbosa	37
Aaron Brooks	35
Evan Turner	32
Michael Jordan	40
Dwyane Wade	37
Tony Parker	37
Darren Collison	31
Gary Neal	34
Shaun Livingston	34
Jason Terry	42
José Calderón	38
Lou Williams	36
J. J. Barea	38
Jodie Meeks	35
Toure’ Murry	32
Gal Mekel	34
Chandler Hutchison	26
Tyrell Terry	22
Jon Teske	25
Keith Langford	39
Carmelo Anthony	38
Eugene Jeter	39
Jarrett Jack	37
J. R. Smith	35
Kyle Korver	40
JJ Redick	37
Jamal Crawford	42
Jawad Williams	39
Mo Williams	35
P. J. Hairston	25
Manu Ginóbili	41
Ronnie Price	35
Steve Blake	37
Boštjan Nachbar	37
Metta World Peace	37
Matt Barnes	37
Stephon Marbury	40
Luke Ridnour	35
Ryan Gomes	33
Charlie Bell	37
Kevin Martin	33
DeShawn Stevenson	35
Matt Bonner	36
Pablo Prigioni	39
Darius Songaila	37
Shawn Marion	37
Kelenna Azubuike	31
Jason Richardson	34
Daniel Gibson	29
Stephen Graham	33
Kobe Bryant	37
Brandon Roy	28
Tracy McGrady	34
Jared Jeffries	31
Allen Iverson	38
Luke Walton	33
Michael Redd	34
Keyon Dooling	34
Raja Bell	37
Chris Duhon	31
Alvin Williams	34
Bruce Bowen	38
Mark Madsen	33
Bobby Jackson	36
Tyronn Lue	32
Donyell Marshall	36
Wally Szcerbiak	32
Lindsey Hunter	39
Mateen Cleaves	32

Forwards

Name	Age
Marvin Williams	34
Dorell Wright	34
Thabo Sefolosha	36
Amar’e Stoudemire	33
Kevin Séraphin	30
Corey Brewer	34
Lucas Nogueira	28
Channing Frye	36
Dirk Nowitzki	40
Luol Deng	34
Zach Randolph	38
Trevor Booker	32
Jon Leuer	31
Vince Carter	43
Ekpe Udoh	36
Luigi Datome	35
Udonis Haslem	43
Yi Jianlian	38
Othello Hunter	37
Gustavo Ayón	37
Shayne Whittington	32
Omri Casspi	33
Amile Jefferson	28
Jared Dudley	36
Luis Scola	41
Tyson Chandler	38
Pau Gasol	41
Sun Yue	35
Mike Hall	37
Gerald Green	35
David Andersen	41
Damjan Rudež	35
Alexis Ajinça	33
Beno Udrih	39
Chandler Parsons	33
Jeff Teague	33
Roy Hibbert	31
David West	38
Boris Diaw	36
Mike Dunleavy Jr.	38
Mirza Teletović	33
Richard Jefferson	38
Al Jefferson	34
Kris Humphries	34
Gerald Henderson Jr.	31
Andrés Nocioni	37
Paul Pierce	39
James Jones	36
Jason Maxiell	34
Tayshaun Prince	37
Nazr Mohammed	39
Primož Brezec	37
Martell Webster	30
Robbie Hummel	28
David Lee	34
Earl Barron	36
Kendall Marshall	26
Carlos Boozer	36
Caron Butler	37
Tiago Splitter	33
Mike Miller	38
Jiří Welsch	38
Raül López	36
Mario West	31
Paul Davis	31
Tim Duncan	40
Sasha Kaun	31
Josh Howard	36
Willie Green	35
Landry Fields	28
Kevin Garnett	40
Melvin Ely	38
Elton Brand	37
Ronny Turiaf	33
Greg Oden	28
Ray Allen	41
Adam Morrison	29
James Posey	36
Juwan Howard	40
Anthony Carter	38
Vladimir Radmanović	32
Chris Quinn	30
Rob Kurz	28
Malik Rose	34
Darrick Martin	38
Karl Malone	40

Centers

Name	Age
Andrew Bogut	36
Joakim Noah	36
Anderson Varejão	38
Marcin Gortat	36
Zaza Pachulia	35
LaMarcus Aldridge	37
Ian Mahinmi	34
Nick Collison	37
Shaquille Oneal	39
Patrick Ewing	40
David Robinson	38
Dikembe Mutombo	42
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	42

Retirement influencing factors

It boils down to a trio of elements: physical condition, skill, and a genuine passion for basketball. Generally speaking, the golden years for an NBA superstar to step back are in the mid to late thirties. 

Now, there’s this common assumption that the big guys, the Centers and Power Forwards, would bow out sooner given the sheer physical toll on their bodies. But hey, let’s look at the giants like Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Garnett. 

These dudes rewrote the script, tweaking their game and reducing their court time to stretch out their careers. The truth is, when you’ve got height and muscle, you can still snag rebounds and swat away shots even as you age.

Conversely, the guards and small forwards who play with a high-octane style tend to retire earlier, since their bodies just can’t keep up. The reason is very simple: as an athlete gets older, quickness and speed are typically the first of athleticism.

Kobe was a different story, retiring after 20 years because his body simply couldn’t take it anymore. He went through years of driving to the hoop, fighting through contact and taking impact at the rim. I mean, this takes its toll on your body.

Drawing a parallel, we’ve got Dwyane Wade, a dude who carved out a name for himself being a hard-charger, always taking it to the rim. You see the repercussions in his recent seasons, despite a somewhat healthier run last time around.

In the NBA, only a small group of star players get to retire on their own terms, usually avoiding serious injuries throughout their careers. Sadly, this isn’t the norm. The average player stays in the league for just under 5 seasons, often leaving before they turn 30.

Many find themselves without a new contract or facing injuries that cut their dreams short, forcing them to play overseas or find new careers, sometimes as a broadcaster or coach.

But for the few who dictate their retirement, it often comes in the late 30s, leaving a legacy that younger players aspire to reach. It’s a tough world in the NBA, where only the luckiest get to say goodbye on their own terms.

What about the financial side of retirement?

In the NBA, players are set up with a pension plan that kicks in at age 45, with the amount being determined by the number of years they played in the league. It’s a pretty sweet deal, especially for those who’ve had a long run, with the benefits calculated based on their highest earning three seasons and the age at which they decide to retire.

 And guess what? You only need three years of service to qualify, which includes time spent injured, giving players like Tyler Dorsey a shot at the pension.

But here’s the kicker, the full benefits don’t start rolling in until the age of 62, which feels like a lifetime away, considering most players retire in their mid-30s. 

And while a ten-year veteran can look forward to a hefty annual pension of $215K, those with just three years under their belt will have to make do with $57,000 per year if they retire at 62.

But don’t sweat it. The NBA has covered its players with additional perks like tuition reimbursement for those looking to hit the books again, and lifetime medical coverage, which extends to the family for those with a decade in the league.

So, while it might not be all sunshine and rainbows, with some arguing the system could use a few tweaks here and there, it’s clear that the NBA is stepping up to ensure players have a safety net when they bid farewell to the court. It’s a financial game plan that showcases a level of respect and acknowledgment for the blood, sweat, and tears players pour into the sport.