Who Is the Youngest Player in the NBA?

Who is the youngest player in the NBA? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

When it comes to teenage jobs, it doesn’t get much tougher than competing against the best basketball players in the world.

Every year, a handful of teenagers enter the NBA. Years before they are allowed to have a legal drink in the U.S., those young players are thrown into the spotlight in front of full arenas and a national audience.

Of all the players in the league this season, which one was the youngest? And how does his age compare to the youngest player to ever debut in the NBA?

Here’s a look at the youngest players from this season and league history:

Who is the youngest current player in the NBA?

Jalen Duren is entering the 2022-23 season as the youngest player in the NBA. Drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Duren is currently 18 years old.

Here’s a look at the 10 youngest players set to take the court in the 2022-23 season listed by their birthday:

1. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons: Nov. 18, 2003
2. Trevor Keels, New York Knicks: Aug. 26, 2003
3. AJ Griffin, Atlanta Hawks: Aug. 25, 2003
4. Jean Montero, New York Knicks: July 3, 2003
5. Nikolá Jovic, Miami Heat: June 9, 2003
6. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers: May 30, 2003
7. Ousmane Dieng, Oklahoma City Thunder: May 21, 2003
8. Jeremy Sochan, Portland Trail Blazers: May 20, 2003
9. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets: May 13, 2003
10. Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs: May 12, 2003

Last year, Kuminga made history in the Warriors’ second-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. At 19 years, 213 days old, the Golden State forward became the youngest player since 1971 to start a postseason game. He also joined Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker as the only teenagers to score 18-plus points in a playoff game.

Who is the youngest player in NBA history?

Andrew Bynum is the youngest player to ever check into an NBA game. He made his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 2, 2005, just six days after his 18th birthday.

Two Hall of Famers are among the 10 youngest players in league history. Here they are listed by their age when they made their debuts:

1. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers: 18 years, 6 days
2. Jermaine O’Neal, Portland Trail Blazers: 18 years, 53 days
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: 18 years, 72 days
4. Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons: 18 years, 133 days
5. Stan Brown, Philadelphia Warriors: 18 years, 139 days
6. Bill Willoughby, Atlanta Hawks: 18 years, 156 days
7. Tracy McGrady, Toronto Raptors: 18 years, 160 days
8. Yaroslav Korolev, Los Angeles Clippers: 18 years, 181 days
9. Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors: 18 years, 217 days
10. C.J. Miles, Utah Jazz: 18 years, 241 days