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.