What NBA Players Went Straight From High School?

We take a look at the NBA players who decided to forgo college and go straight to the pros.

NBA Players Who Went Straight From High School

In recent years, the number of NBA players who have gone straight from high school to the NBA has decreased. In the past, players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard made the jump from high school to the NBA. However, there are still a few players who have made the leap. In this article, we will take a look at a few of them.

Kwame Brown

The number one pick in the 2001 NBA draft, Kwame Brown, never went to college. He played one season of high school basketball in Georgia before being drafted by the Washington Wizards. Brown went on to have a mediocre NBA career, playing for a number of teams including the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Bobcats. He was out of the league completely by 2013.

LeBron James

LeBron James is one of the most famous and successful basketball players in the world, and he is one of the few players to have gone straight from high school to the NBA. He was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1984, and he began playing organized basketball when he was just nine years old. He quickly began to stand out as a talented player, and he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He went on to play for the Cavs for seven years before moving to the Miami Heat in 2010. He won two NBA championships with the Heat before returning to the Cavaliers in 2014. He has won three NBA championships overall, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. He was named an All-Star by his second season and was voted the starter for the 1998 All-Star Game.

Why Some NBA Players Decide to Go to College

Education

Players who go to college have a significant advantage over those who choose to go straight to the NBA. They not only receive a top-level education, but they also get to play against some of the best competition in the world. This gives them a chance to improve their game and get ready for the rigors of the NBA.

Those who go straight to the NBA often find that they are behind their peers when it comes to development. This is because they have not had the chance to compete against top-level talent on a regular basis. As a result, they can be at a disadvantage when it comes time to make an NBA roster.

So, while there are some players who choose to bypass college and go straight to the NBA, it is generally in their best interest to receive an education first.

NBA rules

In order to be eligible for the NBA draft, players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and must have also spent at least one year out of high school.

In theory, this rule is in place to ensure that players are physically and emotionally ready for the rigors of professional basketball, as well as to give them time to develop their skills so that they can be more successful at the next level. There are a number of players who have gone against this rule, however, and have opted to declare for the NBA draft straight out of high school.

Some of these players have been incredibly successful, such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Others, like Kwame Brown and Trey Thompkins, have not had as much luck. It is hard to say whether or not going to college would have made a difference in their careers, but it is something that each player has to decide for themselves.

The Pros and Cons of Going Straight to the NBA

One of the most hotly debated topics in the NBA is whether players should go straight from high school to the NBA. Some people argue that players should go to college for at least one year, while others believe that players who are good enough should be able to go straight to the NBA. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each side.

Pros

There are a few advantages to going straight to the NBA from high school. One is that players who are drafted out of high school get four-year contracts, while players who are drafted after playing in college only get two-year contracts. This gives high school draftees a little more job security.

Another advantage is that high school draftees get to start their NBA careers a little bit earlier. This can be beneficial because it gives them a head start on developing their skills and acclimating to the NBA lifestyle. Additionally, it allows them to start building up their brand and getting exposure to sponsors and endorsement deals.

The main advantage, however, is simply that going straight to the NBA gives players the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing professional basketball at the highest level. For many players, this is an opportunity they only get once in a lifetime and they don’t want to pass it up.

Cons

One con of going straight to the NBA from high school is that the player may not be physically or emotionally ready for the NBA lifestyle. The NBA is a business, and players are expected to perform at a high level both on and off the court. This can be a lot to handle for a young player who is still trying to figure out who they are as a person. Additionally, the player will likely be facing much tougher competition than they did in high school or AAU ball, which can lead to frustration and a feeling of being overmatched.

Another con is that the player may not have had the opportunity to develop their skills as much as they would have if they had gone to college first. In the NBA, players are competing against the best of the best, so those who have not had time to hone their skills may find themselves at a disadvantage. This could lead to decreased playing time or even getting cut from the team altogether.

Finally, going straight to the NBA can put a lot of pressure on a young player. There will be immense scrutiny from both fans and media, and expectations will be sky-high. Not everyone is able to handle this type of pressure, and it can lead to problems both on and off the court.

NBA Players Who Went to College

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The NBA draft is an annual event in which the teams in the league select players who have just graduated from high school or from college. In recent years, more and more players have been drafted into the NBA straight from high school.

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Kyam Anthony (born May 29, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been named an NBA All-Star 10 times and an All-NBA Team member six times. He played college basketball for one season with the Syracuse Orange, winning a national championship before entering the 2003 NBA draft where he was selected with the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets. While playing for Denver, he led the Nuggets to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010, winning two division titles in that span. In 2009, Anthony led the Nuggets to their first Conference Finals appearance since 1985. In 2011, he was traded from Denver to the New York Knicks just days prior to the NBA trade deadline. On January 24, 2014, against his former team, the Nuggets, Anthony set an NBA record for most points in overtime period with eight points.

Since beginning his career with the Knicks, Anthony has been named to four more All-Star teams and six more All-NBA teams. While playing for New York he led Knicks to only two playoff appearances but captured Eastern Conference scoring title twice and a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics as a member of Team USA. In 2017, Anthony was traded from New York to Oklahoma City Thunder one month prior to mutual agreement between him and Knicks front office about waiving his no-trade clause in order for a trade involving him may occur. Melo was traded again a year later in 2018 along with draft picks by Oklahoma City Thunder’s front office minutes before trade deadline to Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala. Melo was immediately bought out by Hawks and signed with Houston Rockets few days later where he played until November 8th when Rockets front office announced that they were parting ways with 10-time All Star forward via trade waivers after playing 10 games for them in which he averaged 13.4 points per game while coming off bench behind P.J Tucker and Danuel House Jr.. On November 19th Carmelo agreed upon 1 year non guaranteed deal worth 2.4 million dollars with Portland Trail Blazers where he reunited with former Olympian teammate LeBron James as both won Olympic gold medal together back in 2008 as members of USA men’s national basketball team coached by Mike Krzyzewski .

Chris Paul

Chris Paul (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also been a member of the United States men’s national basketball team. He played college basketball for one season with Wake Forest University before being drafted fourth overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011, but opted out of his contract and was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012. In 2017, he was traded to the Thunder.

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a successful college career with the Marquette Golden Eagles, Wade was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Miami Heat. He was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following twelve seasons. In his third season, Wade led the Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history and was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. At 2006–07 season’s end, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.