Even though most old school coaches are reluctant to play their rookies heavy minutes, it’s more normal to see young players take the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> by storm nowadays, and some scouts would be cautious to take a 20 or 21-year old in the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba/nba-draft-the-5-worst-first-overall-picks-in-history-20201105-0008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA Draft.</a>
Most players take the one-and-done road before making it to the pros. That means that they have to spend one year in college before being eligible to enter the NBA Draft, but it wasn’t always like that.
As a matter of fact, the league allowed high school players to enter the Draft before the collective bargaining agreement of 2005, which is a rule that some teams, players, and analysts would like to change again.
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Rashard Lewis, Amar’e Stoudemire, Jermaine O’Neal, Tyson Chandler, and Al Jefferson are just some of the few great players who skipped college and made it right to the pros. In the following paragraphs, we’ll let you know about the top 5 players who were drafted straight out of high school:
<h2>5. Tracy McGrady</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Tracy McGrady" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Tracy McGrady" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20201108_BUS_165862_rookie_tracy_mcgrady.jpg_22993414_ab371f0f.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Vince Carter is T-Mac’s cousin. (Getty) </figcaption></figure>
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High School:Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, NC) Team: Toronto Raptors Pick: 9 Year: 1997 Career Stats: 19.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.4 APG Accolades: 7x All-NBA, 7xAll-Star, Most Improved Player, 2x Scoring Champion, Hall of Famer
Tracy McGrady was the most unstoppable scorer in the league during his prime, even ahead of Allen Iverson or Kobe Bryant. He was an offensive juggernaut and an athletic freak whose size gave him a huge advantage over his defender.

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McGrady’s skills were unmatched at the time. He had the body of a small forward, the moves of a shooting guard, and the strength of a big. Sadly, injuries took a major toll on his career and he was never truly a part of a winning team.
<h2>4. Dwight Howard</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Dwight Howard rookie" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Dwight Howard rookie" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20201108_BUS_165862_rookie_dwight_howard.jpg_22993414_79cf9740.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Howard entered the league at 19 years old. (Getty) </figcaption></figure>
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High School:Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (Atlanta, GA) Team: Orlando Magic Pick: 1 Year: 2004 Career Stats: 16.7 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.9 BPG Accolades: 8x All-NBA, 8x All-Star, All-Rookie, 5x All-Defensive, 5x Rebounding Champion, 2x Block Champion, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Champion
People seem to forget just how much of an unstoppableforce prime Dwight Howard was. He carried the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals at the ripe age of 24, and was the most dominant big man in the world during a 5-year stretch.

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Howard was supposed to be the second coming of Shaquille O’Neal and while he couldn’t live up to that standard – no one could – he made sure to leave a mark of his own. He’s a lock to make it to the Hall of Fame.
<h2>3. Kevin Garnett</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Rookie Kevin Garnett" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Rookie Kevin Garnett" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20201108_BUS_165862_rookie_kevin_garnett.jpg_22993414_a24684ae.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Garnett spent 21 seasons in the NBA. (Getty) </figcaption></figure>
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High School:Farragut Career Academy (Chicago, IL) Team: Minnesota Timberwolves Pick: 5 Year: 1995 Career Stats: 17.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG Accolades: 9x All-NBA, 15x All-Star, All-Rookie, 12x All-Defensive, 4x Rebounding Champion, All-Star MVP, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Champion, Hall of Famer
There haven’t been many competitors as fierce as Kevin Garnett. Even as a child, he never backed down from a challenge and didn’t hesitate to get into his rivals’ face, and he single-handedly turned the Minnesota Timberwolves into a contending team.

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Garnett is one of the few players to ever win the Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. He was a dominant force on both ends of the floor and his physicality and never-ending drive made him the toughest matchup you could ask for.
<h2>2. LeBron James</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Rookie LeBron James" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Rookie LeBron James" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20201108_BUS_165862_rookie_lebron_james.jpg_22993414_43b5b204.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> LeBron has won a ring with 3 different teams. (Getty) </figcaption></figure>
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High School: St. Vincent-St Mary (Akron, OH) Team: Cleveland Cavaliers Pick: 1 Year: 2003 Career Stats: 27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG Accolades: 16x All-NBA, 16x All-Star, All-Rookie, 6x All-Defensive, Rookie of the Year, Scoring Champion, Assists Champion, 3x All-Star MVP, 4x MVP, 4x Finals MVP, 4x NBA Champion
<a href="https://us.bolavip.com/lebron-james-t92259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James </a>was the most hyped and expected teenager in NBA history. His high school games had more fans in attendance than some major sports events, and needless to say, he definitely surpassed every single one of the expectations.

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James led three franchises to NBA Championships and has dominated the league at will for the past 17 years. He’s got a strong chance to retire as the Association’s all-time leading scorer and is for sure a top-3 player in the history of the game.
<h2>1. Kobe Bryant</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" alt="Rookie Kobe Bryant" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" title="Rookie Kobe Bryant" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20201108_BUS_165862_rookie_kobe_bryant.jpg_22993414_329cb30c.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> The Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe and traded him to the Lakers. (Getty) </figcaption></figure>
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High School: Lower Merion (Philadelphia, PA) Team: Charlotte Hornets (Then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers) Pick: 13 Year: 1996 Career Stats: 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG Accolades: 15x All-NBA, 18x All-Star, All-Rookie, 12x All-Defensive, 2x Scoring Champion, 4x All-Star MVP, MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 5x NBA Champion, Hall of Famer
While this could go either way, we leaned towards Kobe Bryant on the first spot because of his five rings. Moreover, it goes without saying that Bryant’s legacy as one of the greatest competitors and offensive forces in NBA history is still making an impact through the younger players in the league.

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Bryant was the walking testament of hard work. You could never outhustle or outsmart him. His pride and determination to be the best version of himself made him a legend and the greatest player to ever made the league straight out of high school.

NBA Draft: Top 5 players drafted straight out of high school

NBA Draft: Top 5 players drafted straight out of high school - Bolavip US

Dwight Howard and the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/los-angeles-lakers-t101482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> lived up to the challenge of containing Nikola Jokic and the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/denver-nuggets-t100211" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Nuggets</a>in the paint during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> playoffs. However, repeating that effort isn’t going to be easy at all.
The veteran turned back the clock and was all over the court in just 16 minutes of action. He made some impressive defensive plays and dominated in the paint with his length, strength, athleticism, and savviness.
His presence made Jokic struggleto stay in the game for long stretches. Howard drew a lot of contact and fouls from him and the Serbian big man was clearly frustrated. Now, Howard issued him a bit of a warning ahead of Game 2:

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Vintage Dwight Howard lob ��
 (➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/RUFFLES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RUFFLES</a>) <a href="https://t.co/7yFyWy8sCK">pic.twitter.com/7yFyWy8sCK</a>
 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1307155841196331008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2020</a> </blockquote></div>
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<h2>Dwight Howard Warns Nikola Jokic Ahead Of Game 2</h2>
“Well, he’s an awesome player and I loved watching his growth from when he came into the league until now,” Howard started. “For me, as soon as I step on the court, I want to let him know that I’m there. Since we’re staying in the same hotel, I might meet him outside his room and let him know that for the rest of the series I’m gonna be right there, locked on to you. It’s not nothing bad, it’s just competitive spirit inside me. I appreciate his hard work and dedication to the game, and this is a great opportunity for myself, so I’m going to take advantage of any moment I have on the floor, and give my teammates and Laker Nation 110 percent,” Dwight concluded.

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Dwight Howard told us the other day he loves to play against Nikola Jokic. When he checked in tonight, he wanted to show him he’s there — and maybe that Jokic should watch out off the court too. <a href="https://t.co/nxYdJAiJn8">pic.twitter.com/nxYdJAiJn8</a>
 — Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegoon/status/1307171516480708608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2020</a> </blockquote></div>
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Dwight Howard has been on a mission since the start of the season. He was out of a job until DeMarcus Cousins fell down with a season-ending injury and vowed to prove that he was fully committed and focused on redeeming himself after falling off a cliff the past couple of years.
 
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Superman is well aware of the fact that the door is closing for him and that this may be his last shot at winning an NBA championship and he’s not going to let anything or anyone get in his way this time.

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Dwight Howard - Page 3

NBA Draft: Top 5 players drafted straight out of high school

Dwight Howard warns Nikola Jokic ahead of Game 2