In the NBA, experience is key. The best players in the world are usually those who have been in the league for several years and have had time to hone their skills. However, there are always exceptions to this rule.
Some young players enter the league and make an immediate impact, thrilling fans in the bleachers and at home.
That's why we're going to take a look at some of the youngest NBA players ever drafted into the league.
Honorable Mentions: Stan Brown and Jim Browne
Before we dive into our list, it's only fair to mention a couple of players who couldn't make the top 10 on a mere technicality.
Stan Brown
Stan Brown played his first NBA game at 18 years, 139 days of age. He spent his entire pro career as a forward for the Philadelphia Warriors (a previous version of the Golden State Warriors).
Jim Browne
Similarly young, Jim Browne debuted as part of the Chicago Stags (a precursor to the Bulls) at 18 years and 58 days of age. Midway through his 3-year career, Jim Browne switched to the Denver Nuggets, where he spent the rest of his time as a center.
So why didn't either of these spring chickens make it onto the official list? Simply put, neither player was ever officially drafted into the NBA.
Otherwise, both men would be near the top of our list. In fact, Jim Browne was a solid two weeks younger than Kobe Bryant when he played his first pro game!
#5. Bill Willoughby
Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, William "Bill" Willoughby was selected as the first pick of the second round in the 1975 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
At 18 years and 13 days old at the time of drafting and 18 years, 156 days at the time of his first game, Willoughby was the youngest player since Stan Brown to shoot hoops in the NBA.
Unfortunately, Willoughby didn't experience the same level of professional success as fellow prep-to-pro players like Moses Malone and Darryl Dawkins.
Career Highlights
Despite his impressive athleticism complete with a nearly 4-foot vertical leap, Willoughby played for six NBA teams within his eight-season career. Perhaps his greatest pro moment was using his amazing leap to block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's famous "skyhook" during a spring 1981 game.
That same year, Willoughby came off the bench to score 14 points for his team in a 92-90 win by the Houston Rockets against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Despite Willoughby's efforts, the Rockets ultimately lost the series, and the player nicknames "Son of Flubber" and "Poodle" ended his career at age 26 with the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets).
#4. Darko Miličić
Hailing from Serbia, Darko Miličić technically began his pro career playing for one of his country's junior teams as a teenager. When the Detroit Pistons drafted him in 2003, Miličić was only one day past his 18th birthday. To date, Miličić is the youngest foreign player ever to have stepped onto an NBA court.
Although he was only one pick behind number-one draft choice LeBron James, Miličić never made the impact that the Pistons had hoped for.
Career Highlights
Despite participating in the Pistons' 2004 championship win (which made him the youngest player to compete in the NBA Finals and take home a championship ring), Miličic spent much of his 2.5 seasons with Detroit riding the bench.
After being traded to four other teams (including the Orlando Magic, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the New York Knicks), Miličic signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, of which he played only two. Once Minnesota released him from his contract, Miličic played a single regular-season game with the Celtics before hanging up his jersey in 2013.
#3. Kobe Bryant
At 17 years, 312 days old at the time of the 1996 draft, Kobe Bryant was the third-youngest player ever drafted into the NBA. Hailing from Philly, Bryant was the son of former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.
After making a name for himself as a hotshot high school prospect, Bryant chose to skip college and go directly to the pros.
During the 1996 draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, exchanging center Vlade Divac for the Hornets' Number 13 pick.
The Hornets' Number 13 draft pick? None other than Kobe Bryant.
Career Highlights
In this way, Kobe become one of the youngest players ever drafted. From his rookie season onward (all of it spent as a Laker), Bryant made a name for himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Between 18 All-Star selections, two scoring titles, five championship rings, a 2008 NBA MVP award, and countless other honors, Bryant was arguably one of the greatest players ever to grace an NBA court.
#2. Jermaine O'Neal
The runner-up on our list, South Carolinian Jermaine O'Neal, first made a reputation as an elite basketball prospect thanks to his role at his high school, Eau Claire High School of the Arts. There, O'Neal helped the team reach its third consecutive state title.
O'Neal was a mere 17 years and 261 days old when he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1996 draft. This meant he narrowly beat out Kobe Bryant for the record of youngest draftee at the time.
After a so-so start with the Blazers, O'Neal ended up getting traded to the Indiana Pacers, the team he was with longer than any other.
Career Highlights
During his eight seasons with Indiana, O'Neal saw his greatest amount of success. His personal triumphs during this period included six invitations to the NBA All-Star Game and three elections to the NBA All-Team.
In addition, he received the NBA Most Improved Player award for his second season with the Pacers, indicating he had moved on from the rough start he'd originally had with the Blazers a few years before.
As a Pacer, O'Neal helped his team to half a dozen playoffs. After getting traded to four more teams (including a two-year stint with the Celtics that involved a playoff sweep of the New York Knicks in 2011), he ended his career in 2014 as a Golden State Warrior.
#1. Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum is hands-down the youngest player ever drafted into the NBA, as well as the all-time youngest player in the NBA.
Born in New Jersey, Bynum was an incredibly talented basketball prospect from an early age and quickly developed a reputation as one of the best young players in the country.
He was selected by the Lakers with the 10th overall pick in 2005 at just 17 years and 249 days old, making him the youngest player ever to be drafted into the NBA. He edged out the record held by Jermaine O'Neal by less than two weeks!
Career Highlights
Bynum spent seven seasons with the Lakers, where he established himself as one of the league's premier centers.
He was eventually traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, whom he never had a chance to play for thanks to a series of knee injuries. After the end of the season, Bynum signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers before the Cavs traded him to Chicago.
After the Bulls released him, Bynum spent the rest of his final season with the Pacers before hanging up his jersey.
In addition to his two NBA Championship rings and a spot on the 2012 All-Star team, Andrew Bynum earns his spot at the top of this list with his status as the youngest player ever drafted into the NBA.
Conclusion
The youngest players ever drafted to the NBA are a testament to both the talent and ambition of these athletes. From Andrew Bynum at the top of our list all the way down to Bill "Poodle" Willoughby at number five, each player has made an impact on professional basketball in their own way.
While some have gone on to be All-Stars or win championships, others have left us with incredible memories that will last for years—a reminder that age is no barrier when it comes to achieving greatness.
No matter how far they went during their careers, this list of the youngest NBA players ever to be drafted should be an inspiration to you, no matter what age you are.
