The Youngest NBA Player Ever (and the Youngest to Play in the Finals)

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Some NBA players were still teens when they checked into their first professional game. That includes the youngest NBA player in league history, who made his debut just days after he could legally vote.

The NBA is full of young talent, especially since the league began welcoming players straight from high school. That pipeline closed in 2005, but today's prospects can still go pro at 19.

Let’s break down who holds the title of youngest ever, who’s the baby of the current season, and who stepped into the NBA Finals while barely old enough to drive.

The Youngest NBA Player Ever

The title goes to Andrew Bynum. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005, Bynum was just 18 years and 6 days old when he played his first NBA game. That's younger than some high school seniors.

Bynum was part of a wave of players who entered the league early, before the NBA started requiring athletes to be one calendar year removed from high school. Bynum played seven seasons with the Lakers and made an All-Star team before injuries shortened his career.

Before Bynum, Jermaine O'Neal and Kobe Bryant also went pro as teenagers. They came straight out of high school, making waves for the league's history and future talent rules.

One note: Bill Willoughby and Darryl Dawkins were also teenage trailblazers in the '70s. But Bynum still holds the record for the absolute youngest player in the NBA.

Youngest Player in the 2024-25 NBA Season

That honor belongs to Ulrich Chomche, a rookie signed by the Toronto Raptors. Chomche, born in 2005, stepped into the league at just 18 years old. The international player has roots in Cameroon and developed his game through the NBA Academy.

He's not the only teen to have suited up this season. Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher were both top draft prospects. Sarr was picked by the Washington Wizards, while Risacher landed with the Detroit Pistons.

Another name to know: Bub Carrington, the rookie guard signed by the Washington Wizards, is also among the youngest pros this season.

These fresh faces join teams like the Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers as they rebuild with youth. It's a common theme across the league, where athleticism and potential sometimes beat out experience.

Making the Finals

Jonathan Kuminga was the youngest NBA player to appear in the NBA Finals in recent years. He played for the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 championship run at just 19 years old. But the all-time record still belongs to Darko Miličić.

Miličić joined the Detroit Pistons as the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, behind LeBron James. That Pistons team, featuring veterans like Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace, won the title in 2004.

Miličić was only 18 years and 356 days old during those Finals, making him the youngest to ever play in a championship game.

Even though he played just a few minutes, he walked away with a ring. That's more than many NBA players get in their whole career.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.