7 most notable players born after LeBron James' NBA debut, from Cam Boozer to V.J. Edgecombe originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Four different U.S. presidents. Twenty-nine generations of iPhones. A new NBA franchise, with two more on the way.
Those are just a few ways the world has changed since the last NBA season without LeBron James on a roster — it's been a long while. James, approaching the quarter-century mark in the league as he embarks on Year 24 on Tuesday night in his 76ers debut, has already set the NBA record for seasons played.
As James has set more records and remained an All-NBA-level talent into his 40s, his age has become just as much of a representation of his greatness. In 2003, an 18-year-old James was competing against some veterans over 20 years older than him. Nowadays, the roles are reversed; he's been hooping in the NBA longer than some of his peers have even been alive.
Here's a look at a few NBA players who were born after James' debut in 2003.
MORE: Why LeBron James is wearing special jersey patch to celebrate Year 24
NBA players born after LeBron James' debut
Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies
The youngest player in the NBA this season is college basketball's reigning national player of the year. New Grizzlies star Cameron Boozer is just 19 years old, born in July 2007, around four years after James joined the league.
Perhaps even more impressively for James is the fact that Cam's father, Carlos Boozer, was drafted to the NBA just one year prior (2002) than he was. The elder Boozer last played in the NBA in 2014-15 — when James was in Year 12 of his career and beginning his second stint as a Cavalier.
LeBron’s longevity is crazy 👑 2003: 18-year-old rookie LeBron James shared the court with Carlos Boozer on the Cavs. 2026: 41-year-old LeBron will be playing against Carlos's son, Cameron Boozer! 😳 https://t.co/sEkdOH0irB
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) September 30, 2026
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Yes, arguably the best player in the NBA right now wasn't even born when James entered the league.
Victor Wembanyama is still just 22 years old, which can be easy to forget at times considering his dominance. But when he was born in France in January 2004, James was around the midway point of his rookie season.
Whether Wembanyama officially takes the "face of the league" mantle from James remains to be seen, but there is a significant age difference between the two.
True or False? ✍️ Age 22 Wemby > Age 22 LeBron https://t.co/jXm1WuNWuC
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) May 20, 2026
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
Last season's Rookie of the Year, Mavericks star Cooper Flagg, is also safely younger than James' NBA career.
Born in December 2006, the now-19-year-old Flagg wasn't alive for James' first three full seasons with the Cavaliers.
LeBron and Cooper Flagg 🤞 https://t.co/QDbZqkxnx5
— Overtime (@overtime) July 7, 2023
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Jalen Duren, Pistons
Pistons star center Jalen Duren barely makes the list; James' first NBA game against the Kings on Oct. 29, 2003, was just weeks before Duren was born in November of the same year.
Kon Knueppel, Hornets
Hornets sharpshooter Kon Knueppel enters his second NBA season in 2026-27 after emerging as a go-to scorer for Charlotte as a rookie. He's another budding star whose age pales in comparison to James' career.
Knueppel was born in August 2005, when James was soon-to-begin his third NBA season.
Dylan Harper, Spurs
If you watched the 2026 NBA Finals, you may have been shocked to learn Dylan Harper is still only 20 years old, emerging as a centerpiece for the Spurs.
As one of the NBA's rising stars, Harper's life span still hasn't lasted as long as James' basketball career. The Spurs guard was born in March 2006, when James was concluding his third season with the Cavaliers.
V.J. Edgecombe, 76ers
And, of course, James does have a 76ers co-star in the starting lineup who hasn't been alive to witness his entire NBA career.
V.J. Edgecombe, now 21 years old, was born in July 2005 in the Bahamas. Around that time, James was coming off his age-20 season in the league and prepping for Year 3 with Cleveland.
Edgecombe had quite the quote before James' first season in Philadelphia, saying the NBA legend is "exactly old enough to be my dad."
V.J. Edgecombe on playing with LeBron: "He's exactly old enough to be my dad, which is crazy, I ain't gonna lie. His son is older than me, which is crazy.” 🤣🤣🤣 (h/t @ohnohedidnt24) https://t.co/vnsl8rYwxA
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 19, 2026
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