5 Players You Forgot Were Still In The NBA

One of my favorite things in sports is turning on a game on TV and seeing a player who makes me think, “Wait, he’s still playing?”

It’s always a testament to their grit and determination, sticking around to play the game they love until they physically can’t anymore.

For the longest time, Blake Griffin would have almost made an appearance on this list, but now that he’s retired, here are my five picks. For the sake of entertainment, players who are rostered by G-league affiliates will count on this list.

Taj Gibson

How in the world has Taj Gibson started 11 games for an NBA team in 2025? As a Knicks fan, I watched this man basically step into a player-coach role last season.

When he did take the court, I almost felt bad for him. It looked like every dribble was flat-out painful for Taj, and he managed just a measly 1.7 points per game average between the Knicks and Detroit.

Nonetheless, the veteran enforcer has indeed suited up for his 16th NBA season. Gibson, who placed fifth in Rookie of the Year voting many moons ago back in the 2009-2010 season, has sprinkled in 2.4 points per game at 39 years old for the lowly Hornets.

Cheers to you, Taj.

T.J. Warren

Continuing with the Knicks theme, T.J. Warren is still playing at a high level for the team’s G-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. A long-time NBA forward, Warren is now 31 years old and has taken the floor for the Suns, Pacers, Nets and Timberwolves over the course of his 9-year career.

At his peak, he averaged an eyelash under 20 points per game and made just over 40% of his threes. His days of being a full-time NBA starter are firmly in the rearview mirror, but he’s put up around 25 points per game in the G-League this season, so he may be knocking on the door for an NBA return in some form.

James Wiseman

Next up is a bit of a different player archetype with the 23-year-old James Wiseman. With Wiseman’s lengthy injury history, and being relegated to the nightmarish Pistons last season, it’s quite easy to forget about the former number two overall pick in the 2020 draft who was famously taken by the Warriors over LaMelo Ball.

Wiseman was thrust into action right away during his rookie season, drawing the start in 27 contests and averaging over ten points per game. The seven-footer did have a propensity to foul, though, and even when he’s been healthy in years since, teams have been wary of giving him opportunities.

Wiseman tore his Achilles in his first game of this season (also his first game as a Pacer), so hopefully, he’ll be all healed up and ready to go next year.

Frank Kaminsky

Our second consecutive seven-footer on the list is Frank ‘The Tank’ Kaminsky. After playing overseas last season, Kaminsky has returned stateside to play for the G-League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors.

His last official NBA action was in 2023 with his cameo for the Rockets, a team that won only 22 games. The 2009 first-round draft pick has scored just under 20 points per game in the G-League. He’s still only 31 years old, so the book may not be closed on his career just yet.

Jeff Green

Rounding out this list is the indestructible Jeff Green. Green has been playing in the NBA for basically my entire lifespan, having debuted in 2007 compared to my birth in 2005. He’s never been one of the best players in the league, but his longevity is basically second to none.

After appearing in 78 games last season for the Rockets, he latched on with them once again for this year and has contributed 4.1 points per game. At his apex, the power forward was a capable interior scorer who was agile and athletic especially given his size. At 38 years old, the quickness may no longer be there, but the heart certainly is.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Green looks to continue playing after this year.

Hopefully, next time you see one of these players take an NBA court, you can take a second to smile and appreciate their unwillingness to give up and their desire to extend their NBA dreams for as long as they possibly can.

Dominick Pizzelanti is a second-year dual majoring in broadcast journalism and Spanish. To contact him, email dqp5565@psu.edu.