10 NBA Superstars Who Got Their Start Later In Life
Are you having trouble getting your NBA career off the ground? Get inspired by these ten NBA stars who didn’t play competitive basketball until their thirties, forties and beyond!
1. Kawhi Leonard
Most of us know who Kawhi Leonard is, but many don’t realize that Kawhi didn’t start playing basketball until the age of 37. Always a fan but never a player, Kawhi returned to the stadium one day to look for his missing hat and accidentally walked in on a Toronto Raptors during practice. They let him join in and he was so good that they signed him to a five-year max contract on the spot. The rest is history.
2. Bill Walton
This ‘70s superstar actually got his start in his ‘70s. It just goes to show you’re never too old to start playing professional basketball at a world-class level.
3. Magic Johnson
Magic spent years in the shadows as an accountant for the Los Angeles Lakers. Wanting more than anything to play in the NBA, Magic started playing for the Lakers during nights and weekends, putting in hours where he could. After a streak of triple doubles, Coach Westhead offered him a permanent place on the team.
4. Dirk Nowitzki
As a child growing up in Germany, Dirk dreamed of traveling to the USA to play the forbidden game of basketball. After being kicked out of the house at age 27 when his parents caught him dunking on a homemade hoop, Dirk stowed away on a boat headed west. After seven years of homelessness, the Dallas Mavericks took him in and made him a star.
5. Michael Jordan
Most fans and analysts agree that Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, but did you know that he didn’t even pick up a basketball until his thirties? Struggling for years to find work as an actor, Jordan got his big break at age 33 when he was cast as the lead in the movie Space Jam. The role required he learn how to dribble and shoot a basketball. When The Chicago Bulls saw the test footage, they hired him on the spot.
6. Manute Bol
After two kids and a messy divorce, Manute was forced to take a long, hard look at his life. He always knew that he wanted to play basketball, but never thought it was attainable. When his friends reminded him that he was 7’7”, it gave him the confidence he needed to join the league as a 42-year-old.
7. John Stockton
At age 68, John Stockton realized he wasn’t getting any younger. He left behind his marriage, family and booming tire business for a spot on the Utah Jazz. Stockton now holds the NBA record for career steals as well as being the first player to die on the court due to natural causes.
8. Russell Westbrook
Russell was told his whole life that he was too short, too blind, too weak, too uncoordinated and too dumb to play in the NBA. Not willing to let that stop him, he worked his way toward becoming an NBA superstar at 50 without anyone else’s help.
9. Doris Burke
Doris spent years as a sideline reporter before ever getting on the court herself. Now known as one of the best dunkers in NBA history, Doris is the one getting interviewed by reporters, and she’s very rude to them.
10. Tim Duncan
After retiring as a Yale Law School professor at age 58, Tim was faced with more free time than he knew what to do with. He decided to make the most of it, becoming team captain for the San Antonio Spurs and winning 5 NBA championships.
Well, what are you waiting for? There’s no time better than now to ditch your desk job and join the NBA!
