Age is just a number for the youngest players in NBA history. While they might not be as mature physically, emotionally and mentally as most of their teammates and opponents, there have been several 18 year old players that debuted in the NBA at that ripe age.
None have been younger than Andrew Bynum, who made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers at 18 years and six days old. Due to new NBA Draft eligibility rules, Bynum’s record will likely never be topped under the current structure.
Bynum was drafted inside the top 10 of the 2005 NBA Draft at 17 years old. He was the youngest player to ever be drafted at the time.
Looking at the league today, there are several 19 year old players that are playing roles on NBA teams.
We’ll take a look at the top 10 youngest players in NBA history, as well as the top 10 youngest players that are lacing up their shoes in the league currently.
Here are the youngest players in the NBA:
| Rank | Player | Age in first game | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Andrew Bynum |
18 years, 6 days | 2005-2014 |
| 2 |  Jermaine O’Neal |
18 years, 53 days | 1996-2014 |
| 3 |  Jim Browne |
18 years, 58 days | 1948-1950 |
| 4 | Kobe Bryant |
18 years, 72 days | 1996-2016 |
| 5 |  Darko Milicic |
18 years, 133 days | 2003-2012 |
| 6 |  Stan Brown |
18 years, 139 days | 1947-1952 |
| 7 |  Bill Willoughby |
18 years, 156 days | 1975-1984 |
| 8 |  Tracy McGrady |
18 years, 160 days | 1997-2013 |
| 9 |  Yaroslav Korolev |
18 years, 181 days | 2005-2007 |
| 10 | Andris Biedrins |
18 years, 217 days | 2004-2014 |
Andrew Bynum | 18 years | 2005-2014
Andrew Bynum is the youngest player in NBA history as he made his debut for the Lakers when he was 18 years and six days old.
Bynum was drafted inside the top 10 of the 2005 NBA Draft at 17 years old. He was the youngest player to ever be drafted at the time. Bynum won two NBA titles with the Lakers.
Jermaine O’Neal | 18 years | 1996-2014Jermaine O’Neal made his NBA debut at 18 years and 53 days old, making him the second youngest player in NBA history.
In his lengthy 18 season career, he really made his presence known with the Indiana Pacers. He was selected to six consecutive All-Star teams with the Pacers and he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2002.
Jim Browne | 18 years | 1948-1950Jim Browne is one of the youngest players in NBA history as he made his NBA debut at 18 years and 58 days old.
He played in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which was the precursor to the NBA, for the Chicago Stags and Denver Nuggets. Browne did not have a lengthy career. He only played in 35 games.
Kobe Bryant | 18 years | 1996-2016Kobe Bryant is one of the best and most influential basketball players of all time and he is one of the youngest players in NBA history as he made his debut at 18 years and 72 days old.
He led the Lakers to five NBA titles and he was the NBA Finals MVP twice. The “Black Mamba” earned 15 All-NBA selections as well.
Darko Milicic | 18 years | 2003-2012Darko Milicic made his NBA debut for the Detroit Pistons at 18 years and 133 days old, making him one of the youngest players in NBA history.
Milicic is mostly known because he didn’t live up to expectations for being the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. That draft was littered with stars like LeBron James, the oldest player in the NBA today, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.
Stan Brown | 18 years | 1947-1952Stan Brown played in the BAA and made his debut at 18 years and 139 days old, which makes him one of the youngest players in NBA history.
Brown played a total of 34 games for the Philadelphia Warriors, which are now known as the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.
Bill Willoughby | 18 years | 1975-1984Bill Willoughby is one of the youngest players in NBA history after making his debut at 18 years and 156 days old.
Willoughby was one of the earliest players to skip college and get drafted in the NBA. He played in the NBA for six different teams in eight seasons, most notably with the Houston Rockets because they made the NBA Finals in 1981.
Tracy McGrady | 18 years | 1997-2013Up next in our list of top 10 youngest players in NBA history is Tracy McGrady, who made his NBA debut at 18 years and 160 days old.
McGrady was drafted inside the top 10 right out of high school. In his career with the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Rockets, McGrady earned seven All-Star selections.
Yaroslav Korolev | 18 years | 2005-2007Former forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, Yaroslav Korolev is one of the youngest players in NBA history. He made his debut at 18 years and 181 days old.
Korolev only played in 37 NBA regular season games, but he spent most of his professional career in Russia and Spain.
Andris Biedrins | 18 years | 2004-2014Rounding out the list of top 10 youngest players in NBA history is Andris Biedrins. He spent most of his NBA career with the Warriors after making his debut at 18 years and 217 days old.
While he was mostly a role player, Biedrins led the league in field goal percentage in the 2007-08 season (62.6%).
| Rank | Player | Age | Years in league |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ulrich Chomche |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 2 |  Tidjane Salaun |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 3 |  Nikola Topic |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 4 |  Pacome Dadiet |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 5 | Cam Christie |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 6 |  Bub Carrington |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 7 | Ron Holland |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 8 | Alexandre Sarr |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 9 |  Zaccharie Risacher |
19 years | 2024-Present |
| 10 | Trentyn Flowers |
20 years | 2024-Present |
Ulrich Chomche | 19 years | 2024-PresentUlrich Chomche is the youngest player in the NBA today at 19 years old. He is a whopping 142 days younger than the next youngest player in the league currently.
Chomche is on a two-way contract with the Raptors. He is from Cameroon and was the first NBA Academy Africa prospect to get drafted.
Tidjane Salaun | 19 years | 2024-PresentTidjane Salaun is tied for being the second youngest players in the NBA today at 19 years old. Salaun, who is from France, was selected sixth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
Salaun averaged 20.7 minutes per game for the Hornets in his rookie season. He is just over 140 days older than the youngest player in the NBA today.
Nikola Topic | 19 years | 2024-PresentNikola Topic, who is 19 years old, is tied for being the second youngest players in the NBA today. He was born on the same day as Tidjane Salaun.
Topic was a first round pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2024. Despite his young age, Topic played professional basketball in Serbia before playing in the NBA.
Pacome Dadiet | 19 years | 2024-PresentPacome Dadiet is one of the youngest players in the NBA today at 19 years old. There are just 14 days that separate Dadiet from being in the top three on this list.
Dadiet currently plays for the New York Knicks and he was drafted by them in the first round in 2024. He is one of four French players drafted in the first round in 2024.
Cam Christie | 19 years | 2024-PresentCam Christie, who is three days older than Pacome Dadiet, is one of the youngest players in the NBA today at 19 years old.
Christie played one year in college at Minnesota before getting drafted by the Clippers in the second round. He has also spent time with their G League affiliate in San Diego.
Bub Carrington | 19 years | 2024-PresentAt 19 years old, Bub Carrington is one of the youngest players in the NBA today. If he was born three days later, he would be in the top five of this list.
Carrington was selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, but he was traded to the Washington Wizards on draft night. Carrington is one of two players on this list to play college basketball.
Ron Holland | 19 years | 2024-PresentRon Holland of the Pistons is one of the youngest players in the NBA today at 19 years old. He is a valuable young asset for the Pistons as he is just 14 days older than Bub Carrington.
Holland was selected fifth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. He averaged 15.6 minutes per game in his rookie season for the Pistons.
Alexandre Sarr | 19 years | 2024-PresentAlexandre Sarr, who is from France, is one of the youngest players in the NBA today at 19 years old. Sarr is 72 days older than Ron Holland.
Sarr moved to the United States in 2021 and he was selected second overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Wizards.
He finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year odds behind winner Stephon Castle.
Zaccharie Risacher | 19 years | 2024-PresentAt 19 years old, Zaccharie Risacher is one of the youngest players in the NBA today. He was the first overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2024 and he was a contender in NBA Rookie of the Year odds this past season.
Risacher played pro basketball in France before moving to the United States. He was the second consecutive French player to be drafted first overall, following Victor Wembanyama, one of the tallest players in the NBA today.
Trentyn Flowers | 20 years | 2024-PresentRounding out the list of top 10 youngest players in the NBA today is Trentyn Flowers at 20 years old. He is currently on a two-way contract with the Clippers after being undrafted in 2024.
Before getting an opportunity in the NBA, Flowers began his pro basketball career in Australia.
The youngest player in the NBA right now is Ulrich Chomche for the Toronto Raptors. He is currently 19 years old and is 142 days younger than the next youngest player in the NBA. Chomche, who is from Cameroon, was the first player from the NBA Academy in Africa to get drafted.
The average age of NBA players is approximately 26 years old. As of February 2025, the median age of NBA players was also 26 years old. However, if you were to take the average age of NBA players and weigh them by minutes played, the value would skew high because the more experienced players tend to play more minutes.
The average age of NBA players has decreased over the years. The average age of NBA players peaked at 28.3 years old in the late 1990s. The slight decrease in average age of NBA players to what it is now is possibly due to more of an emphasis on young talent.
Victor Wembanyama is 21 years old. While he isn’t on the top 10 list for youngest players in the NBA today, Wembanyama is one of brightest young stars in the league. He was a former number one overall pick in 2023 and he led France to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics
Nat Hickey was 45 years and 363 days old when he played his second and final game, which makes him the oldest player in NBA history. Hickey had a short two game career for the Providence Steamrollers in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which was the precursor to the NBA. Hickey was the head coach of the Steamrollers at the time and he activated himself for two games.
Michael Jordan was 21 years and 252 days old at the time of his first NBA game for the Chicago Bulls against the Washington Bullets in 1984. Jordan missed the list of the youngest players in NBA history. However, he is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history as he won six NBA titles, all with the Chicago Bulls.
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