StreetBallTalk.com

Hater Aid · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 08:02 PM

Whats the oldest person to start playing basketball and make it in the nba? I heard their was a dude who didnt pick up a basketball till he was 18 and went off to the nba.

Sari · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 08:24 PM

well i kno its at least 16 or 17, it was hakeem olajuwon, he used to play soccer then moved to the us, but look at him now, hes in the hall of fame and the best center ever...

abdcc · #3 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sari

well i kno its at least 16 or 17, it was hakeem olajuwon, he used to play soccer then moved to the us, but look at him now, hes in the hall of fame and the best center ever...

Best center ever?? i dont know about that. lets not forget guyz like bill russel, wilt chamberlain and Abdul jabbar. i think the oldest was Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo commonly know as Dikembe Mutombo. he went from Africa to the university of Georgetown to become a physician and never had in mind to play basketball. he was 25 years old when he was convinced by the coach of Georgetown to play for his team after several weeks of negociations. I think thats the oldest one to ever make it to NBA

YouTube - Light-Hearted Moments with Dikembe Mutombo
YouTube - Rockets imitate Deke!

what a great man

benjaminlibl · #4 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 11:27 PM

I'll answer your question another way.

If you're 14, work at it as hard as you can. When you get to 16, you might still have a shot. If you're older than that, you probably should stop trying to make it. The people spoken of above are very rare cases. People who actually GET into the NBA are already very rare cases. You need to have talent, a naturally good physique, hard work and guidance. When you're younger, you learn faster. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, I'm just trying to be realistic.

eliezer · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2008, 01:03 AM

Yes, I agree with Sari. Hakeem was 17 whe he played basketball. Eventhough he played at an old age he was a legend of the game. Hats of to him.

baller42 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-20-2008, 07:00 PM

One of the oldest players if not the oldest player I know to start in the NBA is Luis Scola.

a.j.ing · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2008, 07:18 PM

i heard dikembe first tried when he was 17, and he tried to dunk and shattered his teeth on the rim. then there is olajuwan. he was a swatting machine back in the day. and currently, dirk nowitzki started when he was 14, same with KG i think. but they are all big guys. so unless u gona be 7 foot plus it wuld be very hard to make it if u start playing late.

abdcc · #8 (**permalink**) 04-21-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baller42

One of the oldest players if not the oldest player I know to start in the NBA is Luis Scola.

We are not talking about the oldest rookie in the NBA, we are talking about the guy who started playing basketball really late and made it to the NBA. The oldest rookie i know though are Luis Scola 27 years old, Jamario Moon 27 years old and the sophomore Jose Garbosa at 30 years old

Hater Aid · #9 (**permalink**) 04-21-2008, 11:51 PM

oh yeah michael jordon didnt touch a basketball till he was 30.

abdcc · #10 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hater Aid

oh yeah michael jordon didnt touch a basketball till he was 30.

Hahaha funny.....not