Nat Hickey: The Oldest Player in NBA History
In addition to basketball, Hickey was also an accomplished professional baseball player
Although some NBA players make it to their early 40s, such longevity is rare. The need for elite conditioning and willing and flexible joints serves as nature’s reminder if someone insists on sticking around too long. The oldest player in NBA history was Nat Hickey, a seasoned athlete whose lone game action occurred in the days leading up to his 46th birthday.
Hickey was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1902. He grew into a talented 5’11” guard/forward, who played professional basketball for years for a wide variety of teams during the early days of the sport in the 1920s and 1930s. This included such memorable squads as the Eddie Holly Majors, the Original Celtics and the Indianapolis Kautskys. He was also known as a scorer, frequently placing among the seasonal leaders in points.
While many professional athletes of the time typically got “real jobs” during the offseason, he was a true professional athlete. In addition to his success on the hard court, he was also a talented baseball player. An outfielder, he enjoyed a solid 15-year minor league career, hitting a combined .306. Despite his solid numbers, he played in the lower levels of the minors and never made an…
