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When LeBron James steps onto the court for his 76ers debut on Tuesday night, he will embark on his 24th NBA season—a record for the most seasons played in league history. But what truly underscores his remarkable longevity is the fact that a growing number of current NBA players were not even born when he entered the league in 2003.
Since James' first game, the world has seen four U.S. presidents, 29 generations of iPhones, and the addition of a new NBA franchise with two more on the way. More tellingly, an 18-year-old James once competed against veterans over 20 years his senior; now, he is the elder statesman, having played in the NBA longer than some of his peers have been alive.
Here are seven notable players who were born after James' NBA debut:
- Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies: The youngest player in the NBA this season at 19, Boozer was born in July 2007, about four years after James joined the league. His father, Carlos Boozer, was drafted just one year before James (2002) and last played in the NBA in 2014-15, when James was in his 12th season.
- Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: Widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA today, Wembanyama is only 22 and was born in January 2004 in France, around the midway point of James' rookie season. Whether he becomes the new face of the league remains to be seen, but the age gap between him and James is significant.
- Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: Last season's Rookie of the Year, Flagg was born in December 2006 and is now 19. He wasn't alive for James' first three full seasons with the Cavaliers.
- Jalen Duren, Pistons: Duren barely qualifies for this list; James' first NBA game against the Kings on Oct. 29, 2003, occurred just weeks before Duren was born in November of the same year.
- Kon Knueppel, Hornets: Knueppel, born in August 2005, is entering his second NBA season in 2026-27 after emerging as a go-to scorer for Charlotte as a rookie. He was born when James was about to begin his third NBA season.
- Dylan Harper, Spurs: Harper, who emerged as a centerpiece for the Spurs during the 2026 NBA Finals, is still only 20 years old. Born in March 2006, he arrived as James was concluding his third season with the Cavaliers.
- V.J. Edgecombe, 76ers: James' current teammate in Philadelphia, Edgecombe is 21 and was born in July 2005 in the Bahamas. At that time, James was coming off his age-20 season and preparing for his third year with Cleveland. Edgecombe famously quipped before James' first season in Philadelphia that the NBA legend is "exactly old enough to be my dad."
Key Analysis
James' career has spanned generations, and these players serve as a testament to his unprecedented durability. As he continues to perform at an All-NBA level into his 40s, his age has become as much a part of his legacy as his records. The fact that he now shares the court with players born after his debut is a striking reminder of his enduring impact on the game.
Originally reported by yahoo.