Who is the youngest player in NBA? 12 youngsters in the 2024 season
Did you know that every drafted National Basketball Association (NBA) player must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft? This means that most of the youngest players drafted each year are 19. Many basketball fans are curious about the youngest player in the NBA in 2024. Find out who it is and much more about them.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Overview of the youngest players in the NBA
- Youngest player in the NBA: top 12 list
- 12. Scoot Henderson - 20 years
- 11. Dereck Lively II - 20 years
- 10. Amari Bailey - 20 years
- 9. Jordan Walsh - 20 years
- 8. Sidy Cissoko - 19 years
- 7. Nick Smith Jr. - 19 years
- 6. Rayan Rupert - 19 years
- 5. Cam Whitmore - 19 years
- 4. Noah Clowney - 19 years
- 3. Bilal Coulibaly - 19 years
- 2. Dariq Whitehead - 19 years
- 1. GG Jackson - 19 years
- Who is the youngest NBA player drafted ever?
- Who is currently the youngest NBA player?
- Who is the oldest NBA player in 2024?
- Can a 17-year-old play in the NBA?
- Who is the youngest NBA MVP?
- Was Kobe Bryant the youngest player in the NBA?
The youngest player in the NBA is at least 19 years old. The NBA drafts the best and most talented athletes. Every year, NBA teams are on the lookout for the best athletes to join them. Most qualifiers are drafted soon after graduating high school. This list of the youngest players in the NBA is strictly based on age as of March 2024.
Overview of the youngest players in the NBA
| Ranking | Name | Date of birth | Current team |
| 1 | GG Jackson | 17 December 2004 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2 | Dariq Whitehead | 1 August 2004 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 3 | Bilal Coulibaly | 26 July 2004 | Washington Wizards |
| 4 | Noah Clowney | 14 July 2004 | Brooklyn Nets |
| 5 | Cam Whitmore | 8 July 2004 | Houston Rockets |
| 6 | Rayan Rupert | 31 May 2004 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 7 | Nick Smith Jr. | 18 April 2004 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 8 | Sidy Cissoko | 2 April 2004 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 9 | Jordan Walsh | 3 March 2004 | Boston Celtics |
| 10 | Amari Bailey | 17 February 2004 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 11 | Dereck Lively II | 12 February 2004 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 12 | Scoot Henderson | 3 February 2004 | Portland Trail Blazers |
Youngest player in the NBA: top 12 list
Great basketballers are determined, aware, strong-minded, passionate, mentally tough, and coachable. NBA coaches and other team officials look for these characteristics when drafting young players every year. Check out the youngest active players in 2024.
12. Scoot Henderson - 20 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sterling Henderson
- Date of birth: 3 February 2004
- Age: 20 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Marietta, Georgia, USA
- Current team: Portland Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson is among the youngest NBA players in 2023-24. He plays for the Portland Trail Blazers. Scoot Henderson played for Carlton J. Kell High School in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia, before joining his current team.
11. Dereck Lively II - 20 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Dereck Jerome Lively II
- Date of birth: 12 February 2004
- Age: 20 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Current team: Dallas Mavericks
Dereck Lively II is a professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Dereck Lively II plays as a centre for his team.
10. Amari Bailey - 20 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Amari Bailey
- Date of birth: 17 February 2004
- Age: 20 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Current team: Charlotte Hornets
Did you know Amari Bailey of the Charlotte Hornets is currently on a two-way contract with the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League? He was selected by his current team in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft and made his NBA debut in November 2023.
9. Jordan Walsh - 20 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Jordan E. Walsh
- Date of birth: 3 March 2004
- Age: 20 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
- Current team: Boston Celtics
Jordan Walsh played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks before being drafted by the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He is a guard for his team and is currently on assignment with the Maine Celtics. Jordan Walsh played college basketball at Arkansas before being drafted by the Celtics.
8. Sidy Cissoko - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sidy Cissoko
- Date of birth: 2 April 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Saint-Maurice, France
- Current team: San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs' Sidy Cissoko previously played for the NBA G League Ignite. He is a forward for the San Antonio Spurs on assignment with the Austin Spurs. His dad, Yaya, was a basketball player who represented Senegal at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
7. Nick Smith Jr. - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Nicholas Smith Jr.
- Date of birth: 18 April 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Jacksonville, Arkansas, USA
- Current team: Charlotte Hornets
Nick Smith Jr. attended North Little Rock High School in Arkansas. During his senior year of high school, he was named the first overall recruit in the class. Nick Smith Jr. is currently signed with the Charlotte Hornets.
6. Rayan Rupert - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Rayan Rupert
- Date of birth: 31 May 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Strasbourg, France
- Current team: Portland Trail Blazers
Rayan Rupert is a professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers. When current NBA players by age, he appears on the list of the youngest. Rayan Rupert previously played for the New Zealand Breakers.
5. Cam Whitmore - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Cameron Whitmore
- Date of birth: 8 July 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Odenton, Maryland, USA
- Current team: Houston Rockets
Cam Whitmore was drafted by the Houston Rockets of the NBA in 2023. He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats before joining his current team. Cam Whitmore plays at the small forward position.
4. Noah Clowney - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Noah Clowney
- Date of birth: 14 July 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
- Current team: Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets is Noah Clowney's current team. He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Brooklyn Nets selected him as the 21st overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He is a forward loved by people from different parts of the world.
3. Bilal Coulibaly - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Bilal Coulibaly
- Date of birth: 26 July 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Saint-Cloud, France
- Current team: Washington Wizards
Bilal Coulibaly played for the Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A, the highest league of basketball in France, before being selected seventh overall by the Washington Wizards. He plays as a small forward or shooting guard. Did you know Bilal Coulibaly is of Malian descent?
2. Dariq Whitehead - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Dariq Miller-Whitehead
- Date of birth: 1 August 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Current team: Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets' Dariq Whitehead played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before joining his current team. As a senior, he was named High School national player of the year. His brother, Tahir, played in the National Football League.
1. GG Jackson - 19 years
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Gregory Jackson II
- Date of birth: 17 December 2004
- Age: 19 years (as of March 2024)
- Place of birth: Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- Current team: Memphis Grizzlies
GG Jackson is the youngest NBA player in 2024. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference before being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. GG Jackson grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and attended Ridge View High School.
Who is the youngest NBA player drafted ever?
Andrew Bynum is the youngest NBA player in history. He was drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005 and made his NBA debut at 18 years and six days.
Who is currently the youngest NBA player?
GG Jackson is the youngest NBA player in 2024. He was born on 17 December 2004 and is 19 years old as of March 2024.
Who is the oldest NBA player in 2024?
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is the oldest active player in the NBA for the 2023-2024 season.
Can a 17-year-old play in the NBA?
No, the minimum age for NBA players to be drafted is 19. Even so, there are many 17-year-old players signed with the G League, which is the NBA's official minor league.
Who is the youngest NBA MVP?
Derrick Rose is the youngest NBA MVP. He was named MVP at 22 and is one of the most famous NBA celebrities of all time.
Was Kobe Bryant the youngest player in the NBA?
When the late Kobe Bryant made his NBA debut, he was the second-youngest player ever to play in an NBA game at 18 years and 72 days. He was also the youngest NBA starter at 18 years and 158 days.
The youngest player in the NBA is GG Jackson of the Memphis Grizzlies. All players drafted by the NBA must be at least 19 years old at the time of the draft.
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