Top 10 Youngest Players to Play in the NBA

1. Andrew Bynum (18yrs + 6 days) – he is the youngest player to play in the NBA at only 18 years and 6 days of age.  He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1st round of the 2005 NBA Draft and debuted for them in November of 2005.  He stands 7-feet in height and plays center for the Lakers and has helped the team to win two NBA Championships.

2. Jermaine O’Neal (18yrs + 53 days) – during his debut in December of 1996, Jermaine became the youngest player to play in the NBA passing Kobe Bryant at that time.  During the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Portland Trailblazers and played for them until 2000.  In 2002, he received the award as most improved player.  He stands at 6 feet 11 inches and currently plays as power forward/center position.

3. Kobe Bryant (18yrs + 72 days) – during his 1996 debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe was the youngest player then to play in the NBA.  In 2007, he has been voted by a poll of sportswriter as the second best shooting guard in NBA history behind Michael Jordan.  To date, Kobe managed to win 5 NBA Championships, 1 MVP, 2 Finals MVP, 4 NBA All-Star MVP, and 1 Olympic Medal.  He stands at 6 feet 6 inches and plays as shooting guard position.

4. Darko Milicic (18yrs + 133 days) – Darko is from Yugoslavia and was selected by the Detroit Pistons during the 1st round and 2nd pick overall of the 2003 NBA Draft.  Since the 1st pick was LeBron James and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons could have at least waited as the next picks were Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade – players that are making a big name in the game.  Darko stands at 7 feet in height and plays at center position.

5. Stanley "Stan" Brown, also known as Loady (18yrs + 139 days)  – He played for the Philadelphia Warriors (1947–48, 1951–52) in the BAA and NBA for 34 games. He held the record for the youngest player to play in the NBA/BAA for more than 48 years before the record was broken by Kobe Bryant in 1996.

6. Bill Willoughby (18yrs + 156 days) – he held the youngest player to play in the NBA from 1975 to 1996, a record he lost when Kobe Bryant was drafted in to play.  The only notable career highlight for Bill Willoughby was that of the 1981 postseason where he, while playing for the Houston Rockets, was the only player to have blocked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook at its apex.  Bill stands at 6 feet 8 inches and has played center/power forward for six NBA teams.

7. Tracy McGrady (18yrs + 160 days) – Tracy was picked 9th overall during the 1st round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors.  In 2001, during his time with the Orlando Magic, he received the award of being the most improved player.  He is mentioned to be among the “Top 75 Players of All-Time” in 2003 by SLAM Magazine.  Tracy stands at 6 feet 8 inches and plays guard/ forward position.

8. Yaroslav Korolev (18yrs + 181 days) – Yaroslav is from Russia and was picked 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2005 NBA Draft.  Yaroslav stands at 6 feet 10 inches and played only a total of 34 games in the NBA averaging 1.1 PPG and 0.5 RPG.

9. Andris Biedrins (18yrs + 217 days) – he is a Latvian professional basketball player that was picked 11th overall during the 1st round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. During his early season in the NBA, Andris got little playing time as he always managed to get himself into foul trouble.  Andris stands at 7 feet in height and has played center position.

10. Calvin Andre “C. J.” Miles, Jr. (18yrs + 241 days) – Miles was picked 34th overall by the Utah Jazz during the 2nd round of the 2005 NBA Draft.  He stands 6 feet 6 inches and plays as small forward/ shooting guard position.