Making the Leap From High School Was Once Possible
Draft rules have changed throughout time when it comes to the NBA selecting college players. From the outset of the NBA draft, players would have to go through their college eligibility – four years – to be chosen. Then the tide shifted and underclassmen and high schoolers were drafted. Who is the youngest NBA player now and in its history.
The youngest player to appear in an NBA game was Andrew Bynum. The center went from high school in New Jersey to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was 18 years and 6 days old when he made his pro debut.
Bynum’s early career was solid as he played on two championship teams in LA. His career was derailed by injury and he lasted eight seasons overall.
The Lakers had another young player who earned some championships and fame. Kobe Bryant was the third youngest player in league history – Jermaine O’Neal was the second youngest – at 18 years and 72 days.
The Charlotte Hornets were the team that drafted Bryant and made the mistake of trading him to the Lakers. And the rest was NBA history.
One young player that would surprise everyone by being on the list is Stan Brown. He was 18 years and 139 days old when played for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947. Overall, Brown played in 34 NBA games and that is why he is unknown.
Some of the other young players in the league were Darko Milic (18 years, 33 days), Bill ‘Poodles’ Willoughby (18 years, 156 days), and Tracy McGrady (18 years, 160 days).
Who Are the Youngest NBA Players Right Now?
Ulrich Chomche is the youngest player in the NBA, and he plays for the Toronto Raptors. He’ll be turning 19 on December 30, so you might want to check out his prop bets at BetUS Sportsbook before his birthday.
In a coincidence, the second-and third-youngest players were born on the same date. Nikola Topic of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Tidjane Salune of the Charlotte Hornets were both born on Aug. 10, 2005.
Who Is the Oldest Player in the NBA?
When it comes to the oldest NBA player currently, the great LeBron James holds that honor. He is going to be 40 on Dec. 30. That means he was 21 and already an NBA veteran when Chomche was born.
Confidence is not lacking in the James family. Bronny, his eldest son, has played with the Lakers this season and is now splitting time with the G League. Bryce James is 17 years old and is a rising high school star. He already has an NBA game when it comes to talking.
Bryce James was asked who would win a one-on-one game between him and his father. The 17-year-old Bryce James claims he’d beat LeBron one-on-one.
Bryce James played two seasons at Sierra Canyon High School in Southern California. After a flurry of reports that he was going to transfer to another high school, Bryce James wound up back at Sierra Canyon as a junior.
Will he be able to play with his father, too? He has a ways to go and remembers that Bronny James spent time at USC before being drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. Time will tell if three James play on the court in the NBA at the same time.
Other elder statesmen in the league are LA Clippers forward P.J. Tucker and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, born one day apart, are also 39 years old, as is Charlotte Hornets forward Taj Gibson.
The oldest player in NBA history was Nat Hickey, who was 45 years and 353 days old when he played his final game. Other players who were older when they finished their careers are more familiar: Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Vince Carter, Udonis Haslem, the late Dikembe Mutombo, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
What Is the Youngest Team in the NBA?
The youngest team in the NBA entering this season was the Oklahoma City Thunder at 24.148 years of age. Remember, too, the Thunder will likely keep getting younger because they have a bunch of first-round picks in upcoming years.
Most of the young teams are in the West with the Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs second and third. Then comes the first Eastern Conference team the Detroit Pistons followed by the Utah Jazz.