The top 10 rookie campaigns in NBA history
There have been numerous legendary rookie seasons in the NBA. Here are the top ten rookie campaigns in NBA history.
As players are used to competing against the top athletes in the world, the adjustment to the NBA is never simple.
The NBA is a very different animal, whether you come from college, the G League, or a professional league in Europe.
Basketball players in the league are among the quickest, strongest, sharpest, and most skilful in the world, therefore newcomers nearly always require some adjustment period.
However, a shrinking number of people find that adjustment to be nearly effortless, which helps them flourish from the start.
Fans will be intrigued by the 2023–24 season as they see how talented rookies like Victor Wenbayama, Chet Holmgren, and Scoot Henderson adjust to the mental and physical demands of the NBA.
In a year, is it possible that a generational potential like Wembanyama will make this list? In the meanwhile, let’s rank the top 10 rookie campaigns in history.
10 best rookie seasons in NBA history, ranked
10. Wes Unseld — Baltimore Bullets, 1968-69
Unseld comes in at No.10 on our list, earning the accolade by being one of two players in league history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season.
Unseld averaged 13.8 points, 18.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his pro debut, taking the Washington Bullets from sixth to first in the Eastern Conference.
Unseld, notably, won these awards by averaging half the points and the same number of rebounds as the player who finished runner-up to him in Rookie of the Year voting.
While his rookie season was certainly nothing to be ashamed, the nod in our rankings goes to the runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 1968-69..
10 best rookie seasons in NBA history, ranked
10. Wes Unseld — Baltimore Bullets, 1968-69
Unseld comes in at No.10 on our list, earning the accolade by being one of two players in league history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season. Unseld averaged 13.8 points, 18.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his pro debut, taking the Washington Bullets from sixth to first in the Eastern Conference. Unseld, notably, won these awards by averaging half the points and the same number of rebounds as the player who finished runner-up to him in Rookie of the Year voting. While his rookie season was certainly nothing to be ashamed, the nod in our rankings goes to the runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 1968-69…
9. Elvin Hayes — San Diego Rockets, 1968-69
The San Diego Rockets finished their first NBA season with a 15-67 record. They selected Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 draft to turn the team around. It worked, as Hayes averaged 28.4 points, 17.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists as a rookie. The Rockets won 22 more games than the previous season and made the playoffs for the first time.
Hayes’ scoring average was the fifth-best all-time for a rookie, and he is the last first-year player to lead the league in pints per game.
He was runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting to Unseld, who won both the MVP and Rookie of the Year despite Hayes’ far superior numbers and similarly stellar team improvement.
The 2023-24 season will intrigue fans as they see how star rookies like Victor Wenbayama, Chet Holmgren and Scoot Henderson adapt to the physical and mental rigors of the NBA.
Could a generational prospect like Wembanyama possibly find his way onto this list a year from now? Until then, let’s rank the 10 best rookie seasons in NBA history.
10 best rookie seasons in NBA history, ranked
10. Wes Unseld — Baltimore Bullets, 1968-69
Unseld comes in at No.10 on our list, earning the accolade by being one of two players in league history to win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season. Unseld averaged 13.8 points, 18.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his pro debut, taking the Washington Bullets from sixth to first in the Eastern Conference. Unseld, notably, won these awards by averaging half the points and the same number of rebounds as the player who finished runner-up to him in Rookie of the Year voting. While his rookie season was certainly nothing to be ashamed, the nod in our rankings goes to the runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 1968-69…
9. Elvin Hayes — San Diego Rockets, 1968-69
The San Diego Rockets finished their first NBA season with a 15-67 record. They selected Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 draft to turn the team around. It worked, as Hayes averaged 28.4 points, 17.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists as a rookie. The Rockets won 22 more games than the previous season and made the playoffs for the first time. Hayes’ scoring average was the fifth-best all-time for a rookie, and he is the last first-year player to lead the league in pints per game. He was runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting to Unseld, who won both the MVP and Rookie of the Year despite Hayes’ far superior numbers and similarly stellar team improvement.
8. Larry Bird — Boston Celtics, 1979-80
Celtics fans will not be happy that Larry Bird lands at No. 8 on this list once they see who is listed next, but the only thing missing from Bird’s rookie season was an NBA championship.
Larry Legend led the Celtics to a league-best 61-21 record and won the Rookie of the Year over college nemesis Magic Johnson.
However, once the playoffs came, the first round of the Bird-Magic was won by Johnson when he led the Lakers to a championship.
All signs were pointing to a Celtics-Lakers/Bird-Magic showdown in the NBA Finals, but Boston was upset by the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals. Bird finished his rookie season averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
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