Has anyone gone straight from highschool to NBA?

Yes, many players have gone straight from high school to the NBA, especially between 1995 and 2005, a period when the league allowed it before implementing the "one-and-done" rule, with legends like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady making the leap and becoming superstars, though no one has done so since 2005 due to the current age minimum.

Who went straight to the NBA from high school?

Many NBA superstars, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, and Moses Malone, were drafted straight from high school, a practice that peaked in the late 90s/early 2000s before the league implemented an age limit rule in 2005, though some exceptions and players like LeBron James (pre-rule) and current players like Andrew Wiggins and Shaedon Sharpe (via G-League Ignite/Overtime Elite) bypass college.
 

Can you go straight from highschool to the NBA?

No, you generally cannot get drafted directly out of high school for the NBA anymore due to the "One-and-Done rule," which requires players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school graduation to be eligible for the draft, a rule in place since 2005. While players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett went straight from high school, the rule now mandates a gap year, often spent in college, G-League, or overseas. 

Has a 17 year old ever been drafted?

No, the current U.S. Selective Service System requires registration for men 18-25, not 17, though federal law technically allows for militia conscription of able-bodied men 17-45 in emergencies, and some historical drafts did involve younger men or allow enlistment at 17 with parental consent. While the draft hasn't been active since 1973, registration at 18 is mandatory, with penalties for non-registration, and 17-year-olds can enlist with permission.
 

Has a 17 year old ever played in the NBA?

Yes, several players have played in the NBA at 17, most notably Andrew Bynum (the youngest ever to debut at 18 years, 6 days) and Kobe Bryant, who were both drafted at 17, but Bynum was the last to play a game while technically still 17 before turning 18, though most young draftees today are 18 by the time they play due to league rules and draft timing.
 

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At what age did Kobe enter the NBA?

Kobe Bryant was 18 years old when he joined the NBA, making his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on November 3, 1996, just 72 days after his 18th birthday, as the youngest player to ever play in the league at that time. He came straight from high school, becoming the first guard in two decades to enter the NBA without playing college basketball, and his parents had to co-sign his initial contract until he turned 18.
 

Who is the 7 9 player in Florida?

The 7'9" Florida player is Olivier Rioux, a Canadian center on the Florida Gators men's basketball team who became the tallest college basketball player in history, holding a Guinness World Record as the tallest teenager and making his debut in late 2025. He redshirted his freshman year and gained attention for his extraordinary height, standing at 7-foot-9 (2.36m), and scored his first career points in late 2025, making history as the tallest to ever score in NCAA Division I.
 

Who cannot be drafted?

Exemptions from the U.S. draft (Selective Service) apply to those on active military duty, non-immigrant visa holders (student, visitor, etc.), some with disabilities, and certain government/religious figures, though most men aged 18-25 must register, with conscientious objectors needing to apply for deferments or exemptions. Exemptions aren't automatic; you must claim them, and rules can change with national emergencies, as the system is a contingency for when the all-volunteer force isn't enough.
 

Can I get drafted if I'm 16?

All men 18 years and older had to register with the Selective Service. All men between the ages of 18 and 25 were eligible to be drafted for a service requirement of 21 months.

How tall was Michael Jordan at 15?

At age 15, Michael Jordan was around 5'10" or 5'11", still considered short and not making the varsity team as a sophomore, but he experienced a significant growth spurt, reaching 6'3" by his junior year, which helped him become a star player, notes African American Registry and Elephant Learning.
 

Why did LeBron skip college?

LeBron James didn't go to college because he was an elite, NBA-ready prospect who could financially support his family immediately, making the decision purely financial as he was projected to be a #1 overall pick and could earn millions in endorsements and salary straight from high school, bypassing the NCAA's limitations on player compensation. He entered the 2003 NBA draft directly from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, a path that was still open at the time. 

Can Cooper Flagg go to the NBA?

Yes, Cooper Flagg is NBA eligible and was the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Dallas Mavericks, after reclassifying from the 2025 high school class to the 2024 class, making him eligible for the 2025 draft due to his late December 2006 birthday. He completed a standout freshman season at Duke and met the NBA's age requirement by being 18 years old for the draft.
 

Did Kobe skip college?

Kobe Bryant on why he decided to skip college despite a strong SAT score: “I just saw the NBA being such a challenge and such a thrill to myself” Although he came to the league directly from high school, Kobe was already good enough to be selected 13th overall.

Can you skip college and go to the NBA?

No, you don't have to go to college, but NBA rules require U.S. players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from high school graduation, creating a "one-and-done" pathway often filled by college or G-League Ignite, though playing overseas or in other pro leagues also satisfies the year-out requirement, with top players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant previously going straight from high school before the rule changed. 

Why can't high schoolers go to the NBA?

The league wanted to improve the quality of play, so they raised the age restriction. As a result, the games in the NBA are more refined since the players are older and more experienced.

Did Kobe sleep 4 hours a night?

Yes, Kobe Bryant famously got by on just three to four hours of sleep some nights, often using a biphasic sleep pattern (two shorter sleep periods) and taking naps during the day, but he later admitted he regretted the sleep deprivation, realizing it negatively impacted his performance. He often woke at 4 AM to train and would split his sleep, getting around four hours total, but he adapted by napping to make up for lost rest, especially in his later career.
 

Who is richer, Shaq or Kobe?

Kobe Bryant was richer than Shaquille O'Neal, with an estimated net worth of around $600 million at his passing, largely due to successful off-court investments, while Shaq's net worth is estimated closer to $400-$500 million, built on massive endorsements and business ventures, though Bryant's post-career success in business outpaced O'Neal's in the final tally before Kobe's death.
 

How tall was Kobe at 17?

At 17, when he entered the NBA, Kobe Bryant was listed at 6-foot-6 (1.98m), though he was hoping for a growth spurt and sometimes felt he was barely that height, with some sources even placing him slightly shorter, around 6'4" or 6'4.75" when he was younger, but he was considered a 6'6" prospect coming out of high school. 

Can I get drafted if I have anxiety?

Current or a history of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute reactions to stress, and posttraumatic disorder are disqualifying conditions.

Is it illegal to avoid being drafted?

Such evasion is generally considered to be a criminal offense, and laws against it go back thousands of years. There are many draft evasion practices. Those that manage to adhere to or circumvent the law, and those that do not involve taking a public stand, are sometimes referred to as draft avoidance.

Can my only son be drafted?

Yes, an only son can be drafted in the U.S. if a draft is reinstated, as being an only child isn't an automatic exemption, but they may qualify for a peacetime exemption (Sole Survivor status) if a parent or sibling died due to military service, though this policy doesn't apply during congressionally declared war or national emergency. Currently, there's no draft, but males must still register with the Selective Service System. 

Who is the 7ft 9 basketball player in Canada?

The 7'9" Canadian basketball player is Olivier Rioux, a Canadian college player for the Florida Gators known as the world's tallest teenager who made history as the tallest player in NCAA history when he debuted for Florida in late 2025, becoming a viral sensation for his immense height and dunking ability. 

How many 7 footers are there in the world?

While an exact number is impossible to get, estimates suggest there are around 2,000 to 3,000 people in the world who are 7 feet tall or taller, making them incredibly rare, roughly one in every 2 to 4 million people. This scarcity explains why so many 7-footers are sought after in basketball, though many tall individuals live outside of sports. 

Who is currently the tallest NBA player?

The tallest player in the NBA right now is Zach Edey of the Memphis Grizzlies, listed at 7'4", with Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) and Bol Bol (Suns) also among the league's tallest at 7'3", though Wembanyama has reportedly grown to 7'5" for the 2025-26 season, making him potentially taller in reality.