By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
“Age is just a number” is one way of putting it. The other surfaces household names of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague from award-winning players and holders of milestone achievements to multi-time champions.
Eurohoops presents the 14 oldest active EuroLeague players counting all the way down to the last remaining 1984-born star.
Extra info: The oldest player ever to play in the EuroLeague is Dan Gay (Climamio Bologna) at the age of 45 years, 6 months and 14 days old on February 1, 2007.
BRYANT DUNSTON
Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Center | May 28, 1986 | USA
There is no need to include a reference for Bryant Dunston. He captured the EuroLeague championship in 2021 and was named EuroLeague Best Defender in 2014 and 2015. He currently ranks 10th among players with the most rebounds in history with 1,124 and tops the all-time block list with 296. The 35-year-old has checked in off the bench for Anadolu Efes in 19 out of his 23 appearances this season logging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 16:39 per game.
OTHELLO HUNTER
FC Bayern Munich | Center | May 28, 1986 | USA
Consistency translates to Othello Hunter. At 35, the 2019 EuroLeague champion is a key player for FC Bayern Munich. Registering 7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 21:40 per game, he also made our “zero games started” list. He is still moving up the all-time rebound list, currently sitting ninth with 1,265 to his name.
MARKO SIMONOVIC
Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade | Forward | May 30, 1986 | Serbia
The 2021-22 campaign might not be his best, with 2.3 points in 11:52 per contest over 13 appearances, including one start, but 35-year-old Marko Simonovic is a well-respected player in EuroLeague. The former Crvena Zvezda mts captain is going through his fifth EuroLeague season following the 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2020-21 runs as a member of the Belgrade club.
SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
AX Armani Exchange Milan | Guard | June 12, 1986 | Spain
Where to start from with Sergio Rodriguez? He was crowned EuroLeague champion in 2015 and 2019 and MVP in 2014. He currently sits sixth overall in the all-time scoring list with 3,371 points, third in assists at 1,535, and eighth in steals at 268. About to turn 36 and coming off the bench in 24 of his 26 appearances in the 2021-22 Regular Season, he has produced 8.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 19:55 per game pushing Milan toward a home-court advantage in the playoffs.
ARTURAS MILAKNIS
Zalgiris Kaunas | Guard | June 16, 1986 | Lithuania
Any Zalgiris fan has enjoyed his three-pointers. Being on the receiving end of his 1,055 long-range makes fits all other cases. He ranks third overall in the all-time list of players connecting on the most triples. Age is definitely just a number for Arturas Milaknis. Tucking in 43.9% of his three-point shots over 25 games with Zalgiris this season sets him in tenth place in the 2021-22 percentage list. He has averaged 7.1 points in 19:03 per game over 25 appearances, including four starts.
WILL THOMAS
AS Monaco | Forward | July 1, 1986 | USA
Newcomer AS Monaco is in the midst of a battle for a berth to the Playoffs. Experienced players have been paving the way. The squad includes Will Thomas. Nearing 36, he has started in 18 of his 25 appearances, lasting 26:27 per game. The left-handed forward stuffing the stat sheet has put up 6.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
CHARLES KAHUDI
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | Forward | July 19, 1986 | France
Blending youth and experience has evolved into a common case for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. At 35, Charles Kahudi is among the ASVEL players bringing in experience. He is averaging 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20:09 per contest over 24 appearances in the 2021-22 campaign, including 10 starts earlier in the season.
KYLE HINES
AX Armani Exchange Milan | Center | September 2, 1986 | USA
In the recent win opposite Panathinaikos OPAP, he grabbed the key offensive rebound securing a win for AX Armani Exchange Milan in Athens. Fans have come to expect those plays from Kyle Hines. He has not been slowing down at 35, instead produced 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 23:57 per game over 26 games played, including 14 starts. Besides enjoying four EuroLeague championships with the titles stretching from 2012 and 2013 to 2016 and 2019, he was named EuroLeague Best Defender in 2016 and 2018, and in the 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Team. The all-time scoring list displays him in eighth place with 2,958 points. The undersized center also ranks fourth overall in the all-time rebound list with 1,602, while 280 blocks earn him the second place and 249 steals are good enough for the 12th highest spot in respective lists.
MANTAS KALNIETIS
Zalgiris Kaunas | Guard | September 6, 1986 | Lithuania
After three years, Mantas Kalnietis returned to the EuroLeague looking to strengthen Zalgiris Kaunas once more. Carrying the experience of 11 EuroLeague campaigns, he seemed on the right on track from the get-go. He turned 35 in September and from there logged 5.9 points and 4.4 assists in 17:12 per game. He started in 12 out of his 18 appearances.
JAMES GIST
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | Center | October 26, 1986 | USA
After inking a short-term contract with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, he penned an extension for the remainder of the season. James Gist proved he remains reliable inside the paint, even at the latter stage of his career. More proof stemming from his 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 21:23 per contest in 24 games this year, including 18 starts. Pulling down 1,202 rebounds through his lengthy EuroLeague career, he holds 11th place in the all-time list, while ranking 10th in blocks behind 165 rejections.
GEORGIOS PRINTEZIS
Olympiacos Piraeus | Forward | February 22, 1985 | Greece
All EuroLeague fans know exactly who Georgios Printezis is. Topping the success playlist is the championship-clinching game-winner in Istanbul back in the 2012 Final Four. Recently turned 37, the back-to-back EuroLeague champion in 2012 and 2013 and member of 2010-20 EuroLeague All-Decade Team is no longer the assigned go-to player. However, he remains a key rotation player for Olympiacos. Averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 22 appearances as a reserve, he has improved to 3,567 points and 1,446 rebounds in his career sitting fourth and sixth in respective all-time rankings.
RUDY FERNANDEZ
Real Madrid | Forward | April 4, 1985 | Spain
It has been 15 years since his EuroLeague debut, back in 24 October, 2006, playing for Joventut. Rudy Fernandez is still here. Soon to turn 37, he has tallied 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 19:12 per contest coming off the bench in all 22 appearances with second-placed Real Madrid this season. Piling up more stats, the 2015 and 2018 EuroLeague champions keeps rising in the all-time lists. He is currently 13th in points with 2,810, 20th in assists with 741, and fifth in steals with 320.
KRUNOSLAV SIMON
Anadolu Efes Istanbul | Guard | June 24, 1985 | Croatia
Left-handers have been known to excel. At 37, Krunoslav Simon of defending EuroLeague champion Anadolu Efes proves as much. In 20 games played, nearly split even between starting and reserve assignments, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 22:55 per contest to remain a valuable asset for Efes.
PAULIUS JANKUNAS
Zalgiris Kaunas | Forward | April 29, 1984 | Lithuania
His 3,213 points rank him seventh in the all-time list, he has grabbed more rebounds than anyone else, sits 12th in steals behind 249 and first overall in games played with 386. Paulius Jankunas has become synonymous with the EuroLeague. The Zalgiris Kaunas captain, nearing 38 years of age, is also the oldest active player in the league. His 19th campaign is far from ideal but has stayed ready to help, packing 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13:19 per contest over 11 appearances, including three starts.