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    Gallery: Your Favorite Athletes as Kids

    See what LeBron, Kobe, Messi and many more famous ballers looked like as young'ns.

    Apr 03, 2013
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    Photos tell stories. Whether it’s a yearbook picture, some classic family pics, or even those little league baseball cards, they capture memories that'll last a lifetime. We've gathered pics of a number of your favorite—and maybe not so favorite—athletes when they were still wet behind the ears. Because it's always fun to make fun of pics of other people's younger days. Like Kobe making the growl face as a youngster or the fact that a young Michael Jordan resembles Joey Badass. So, from Alex Ovechkin with a toy knife to Blake Griffin chilling poolside with his best bud, make sure you peep this gallery of Your Favorite Athletes as Kids.

    RELATED: Gallery: Your Favorite Athletes as Teenagers

    Kevin Durant

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    Baby Durantalua used to pull up from halfcourt in CYO games.

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    Lionel Messi

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    Fun fact: Messi's youth club known as "The Machine of '87" lost only one match over a four-year span.

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    Peyton & Eli Manning

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    The Manning boys look less than thrilled to be taking this picture but Eli rocking that Jersey dress is great. 

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    LeBron James

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    The turtle neck/cardigan game hasn't been the same since.

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    Alex Ovechkin

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    This is perfect! We wouldn't expect anything else from the NHL's craziest and most entertaining player. From that awesome hat to that cool knife and the really sweet Buffalo Sabres jacket, you know he was causing problems in elementary school.

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    Russell Martin and Alex Rodriguez

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    Aww, check out these two precious little guys. One Yankee fans wish was still playing for the team and the other they wish would go away but keeps sticking around like that herpes simplex virus you picked up during spring break one year. Uhh, not that we know from experience or anything. Anyway, moving right along...

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    Derek Jeter

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    You know he struck that kid out and then treated to poor guy's sister to Pizza Hut.

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    BJ Upton

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    If only his brother were in this photo then we could link that awesome Upton meme. Ah, fuck it.


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    Dwyane Wade

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    The bow-tie and gold chain combo is undefeated.

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    Jered Weaver

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    It was decided at birth that Jered Weaver would only play as an Angel. 

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    Mickey Mantle

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    Many championships, home runs, beers, and women to come. Sidebar: Why does this look like a mugshot?

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    Martin Brodeur

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    Martin Brodeur was on it from day one. Some kids play NHL '13 while others are really about that life.

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    David Beckham

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    Beckham has always been a young Don.

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    Tom Brady

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    This kid went on to win three Super Bowls and bag Gisele. There is hope for all the little chubby young'ns out there that want to be quarterback.  

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    Jason Heyward

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    Word is this photo brings Yankees fans to tears. Keep dreaming, guys. You do have have Vernon Wells after all.

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    David Wright

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    "One day I'm going to be captain of one of the most well-known struggle organizations in sports history."

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    Rafael Nadal

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    Nike's had its eye on Nadal for a while. #seewhatwedidthere?

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    CC Sabathia

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    CC was always a horse. 

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    Maria Sharapova

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    We're not sure about her form in this photo but what the hell do we know? She went on to become the No. 1 player in the world and rack up four Grand Slam titles so we'll just STFU.

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    Roger Federer

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    Rugby or tennis? Seems like dude made the right move.


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    Hope Solo

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    With a name like that she was destined for greatness.

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    Mia Hamm

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    Word is she used that haircut to play in both girls and boys soccer leagues. 

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    Stephen Curry

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    Steph Curry grew up wanting to be Bo Jackson.

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    Blake Griffin

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    That innocent face would go on to give out some of the most vicous facials the league has ever seen.


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    Venus and Serena Williams

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    Such a vicious doubles team. They probably never lost, even then. 

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    Carmelo Anthony

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    Melo looks like he's up to no good. *cues the soundtrack*

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    Kobe Bryant

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    Courtesy of Kobe's Twitter. He loves him some him.

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    Shaquille O'Neal

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    The Diesel was easily the biggest kid in the Boys and Girls Club. He was 6'5" by the time he was 10.

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    Tiger Woods

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    You peep the polo? Tiger was on that Piru steez from day one. We kid. Relax.


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    Michael Jordan

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    Is that Joey Badass?

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