Who is the youngest player ever drafted in the NBA?
Andrew Bynum is the youngest player to have ever appeared in a regular season game at 18 years and six days old. The Los Angeles Lakers center was born on Oct. 27, 1987, and entered the NBA draft straight out of high school in 2005.
Kobe Bryant was only 17 years old when he was drafted into the NBA in 1996. At the time, he was the youngest player ever to be drafted by an NBA team. This was a bold move for Bryant, as he was foregoing a college education to enter the league.
The basic rules that started in the 2006 draft are: All drafted players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. Any player who is not an "international player", as defined in the CBA, must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.
Bynum played in a preseason game at 17 years old making him the first player to play in the NBA at 17 years of age. On November 2, 2005, during the Lakers' season opener against the Denver Nuggets, Bynum played six minutes and became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game at age 18 years, 6 days.
In 2003, LeBron James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was only 18 years old at the time and was immediately hailed as a prodigy.
Ultimately, the 17-year-old Bryant decided to go directly into the NBA, becoming only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.
French basketball newcomer, Victor Wembanyama, was the NBA's top draft pick on Thursday night. CNN's Omar Jimenez and Don Riddell walk us through the fashions of the evening and why the young player is getting so much attention.
New York Knicks (2012–2015)
On July 24, 2012, Prigioni signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks for the rookie minimum. At age 35, Prigioni became the oldest rookie in NBA history, when he made his debut on November 2, 2012.
The league's eldest statesman will be knocking on the door of several historic milestones in 2023-24. At 38 years old, LeBron James is entering his 21st NBA season. LeBron James was the youngest player on the floor when he made his NBA debut 20 years ago.
Kobe retired on April 13, 2016, at the age of 37 and scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz, in a game he came from behind and won by himself.
Can you be 40 in the NBA?
That's certainly the case in the NBA. A total of 25 NBA players have laced up their sneakers for at least one game in their 40s, not including Nat Hickey, who played two games as a 40-year-old in the BAA in 1948.
Larry Bird was the last player to win the award in three consecutive years. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of three players to win the NBA MVP and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the same season. Derrick Rose became the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22. LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.
Who is the tallest player in NBA history? Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol are the tallest people to ever play in the NBA at 7-foot-7. Tacko Fall, Yao Ming, Slavko Vranes and Shawn Bradley are just a smidge shorter at 7-foot-6. Chuck Nevitt, Pavel Podkolzin and Sim Bhullar are next in line at 7-foot-5.
Before LeBron James was breaking the record for most points scored in NBA history, before bellowing CLEVELAND, THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!!! after winning his third championship and before he began piecing together a career that could be considered the benchmark for the greatest ever, he was a 18-year-old phenom making his NBA ...
Today in Sports - Kobe Bryant becomes the then youngest player to make his NBA debut | AP News.
Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets (traded to the Los Angeles Lakers).
This Day In Lakers History: Kobe Bryant Selected 13th Overall By Hornets In 1996 NBA Draft. After early playoff exits in consecutive years, the Los Angeles Lakers went into the 1996 offseason looking to make some major moves to help get them over the hump.
He was a high school player and there were many in college, with more experience, that looked better at the time. Being picked 13th was really a compliment cinsidering his experience and age.
Head-to-Head
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan played each other 8 times, four when Jordan was with the Chicago Bulls and 4 when he was with the Washington Wizards. The Lakers won 5 of those games. Across these games, Bryant scored an average of 22.8 points, while Jordan scored 24.5 points.
Who was drafted over Jordan?
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akeem Olajuwon^ |
| 1 | 2 | Sam Bowie |
| 1 | 3 | Michael Jordan^ |
| 1 | 4 | Sam Perkins |
Stephen Curry was 21 years old in his rookie season in 2009-10.
Michael Jordan was 21 years old when was drafted into the NBA. Chicago Bulls selected Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft, and he played his first game at Chicago Stadium on October 26, 1984.
Michael Jordan was 21 years old in his rookie season in 1984-85.
Amar'e Stoudemire was named to the All-Rookie First Team in the 2002–03 NBA season. LeBron James was named to the All-Rookie First Team in the 2003–04 NBA season. Carmelo Anthony was named to the All-Rookie First Team in the 2003–04 NBA season.
