{"id":731,"date":"2024-08-16T15:32:08","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T15:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/?p=731"},"modified":"2025-10-19T13:51:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T13:51:39","slug":"best-nba-rookie-seasons-of-all-time-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/bbr-blog\/2024\/08\/best-nba-rookie-seasons-of-all-time-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Best NBA Rookie Seasons of All Time (Part Two)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>(last updated on October 19, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s continue our look at the greatest rookie years in NBA history. As a reminder, to qualify for this list, you had to actually win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/roy.html\">Rookie of the Year award<\/a>, so guys like Magic Johnson and Dwyane Wade, who were rousing rookies, won\u2019t be eligible. Another major factor in making this cut is how the rookie improved his team. Now it\u2019s time to check out part two of these dazzling debuts and spotlight the best rookie seasons in NBA history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">David Robinson (1989-1990)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/robinda01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of David Robinson\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/robinda01.html\">David Robinson<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>David Maurice Robinson<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n    \n  \u25aa\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/twitter.html\">Twitter<\/a>:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DavidtheAdmiral\">DavidtheAdmiral<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(The Admiral, D-Rob)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Center\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Left\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>7-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>235lb<\/span>&nbsp;(216cm,&nbsp;106kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1965-08-06\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=8&amp;day=6\">August 6<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1965\">1965<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;58-364d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Key West,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=FL\">Florida<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-us\">us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      College:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/colleges.fcgi?college=navy\">United States Naval Academy<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High School:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      Osbourn Park in Manassas, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=VA\">Virginia<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/SAS\/draft.html\">San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_1987.html\">1987 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/198911040SAS.html\">November 4, 1989<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Hall of Fame:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 2009 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/hof.html\">Full List<\/a>)\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Career Length:<\/strong>&nbsp;14 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a>Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a>10x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>1993-94 Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>1990-91 TRB Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>1991-92 BLK Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2x NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>10x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>8x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1989-90 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1989-90 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1991-92 Def. POY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1994-95 MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2000-01 Sportsmanship<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>987<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>21.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>10.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>2.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>51.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>25.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>73.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>51.9<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>26.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>178.7<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/robinda01\/gamelog\/1990\/\">Admiral\u2019s NBA debut<\/a> was a long time coming, but it was well worth it. After the San Antonio Spurs took David Robinson as the top pick in the 1987 Draft, he had to fulfill his two years of military service before taking the court. The lefty center went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons ever. Robinson played all 82 games and averaged 24.3 ppg, 12 rpg, and 3.9 bpg. He was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1990.html#all_roy\">unanimous Rookie of the Year<\/a>, and a new era of Spurs basketball was born. In the \u201888-\u201989 season, San Antonio was 21-61 without Robinson. The next year with the Naval Academy star, they won 56 games. In his highly anticipated first game ever against the Lakers on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/198911040SAS.html\">November 4, 1989<\/a>, Mr. Robinson had 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks to lead the Spurs to a victory. Amazingly, the Admiral had three triple-doubles as a rookie, but not of the common variety: he did it with points, rebounds, and blocks. He surged the Spurs to Game 7 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/playoffs\/1990-nba-western-conference-semifinals-spurs-vs-trail-blazers.html\">West Conference Semis<\/a> where they lost to the eventual conference champion Portland Trail Blazers. This phenomenal rookie season by David Robinson was one of the best in NBA history, and it set the tone for his Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shaquille O\u2019Neal (1992-1993)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/onealsh01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Shaquille O\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/onealsh01.html\">Shaquille O&#8217;Neal<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Shaquille Rashaun O&#8217;Neal<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n    \n  \u25aa\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/twitter.html\">Twitter<\/a>:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHAQ\">SHAQ<\/a>\n  \n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Superman, Shaq Fu, Shaq Daddy, Warrior)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Center\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>7-1<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>325lb<\/span>&nbsp;(216cm,&nbsp;147kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1972-03-06\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=3&amp;day=6\">March 6<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1972\">1972<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;52-151d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Newark,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=NJ\">New Jersey<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-us\">us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  <p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Son&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/onealsh02.html\">Shareef&nbsp;O&#8217;Neal<\/a> <\/p>\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      College:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/colleges.fcgi?college=lsu\">LSU<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High School:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      Cole in San Antonio, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=TX\">Texas<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/ORL\/draft.html\">Orlando Magic<\/a>, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_1992.html\">1992 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/199211060ORL.html\">November 6, 1992<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Hall of Fame:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 2016 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/hof.html\">Full List<\/a>)\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Career Length:<\/strong>&nbsp;19 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a>Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a>15x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2x Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>4x NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>14x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1992-93 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1992-93 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>3x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>3x AS MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>3x Finals MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1999-00 MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>1207<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>23.7<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>10.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>2.5<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>58.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>4.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>52.7<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>58.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>26.4<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>181.7<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaquille O\u2019Neal was snubbed for the Dream Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, so he took it out on the NBA in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/o\/onealsh01\/gamelog\/1993\/\">rookie season<\/a>. The top pick of the 1992 draft came to the Orlando Magic and quickly made basketball relevant in Florida. One of the most dominant centers in league history came out of the gate charging: 23.4 ppg, 13.9 rpg, 3.9 bpg, a .562 field-goal %, and some broken backboards. He also started in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/allstar\/NBA_1993.html\">All-Star Game<\/a> and energized the Magic franchise. The Magic improved by 20 games (41-41) and were a hair away from the playoffs. In their previous three years of existence, the expansion team won 70 games total. If one rookie performance spotlighted Shaq\u2019s dominance, it was against the Detroit Pistons on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/199302160DET.html\">February 16, 1993<\/a>. That night he dropped 46 points, collected 21 boards, swatted 5 shots, and was .76 % from the field. Diesel\u2019s 68 double-doubles is still the rookie record. He won the ROY Award by a landslide and proved that Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner were not in his class. The following three seasons O\u2019Neal led Orlando to 50+ wins and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/playoffs\/1995-nba-finals-rockets-vs-magic.html\">Finals appearance in 1995<\/a>. Shaquille O\u2019Neal is one of the biggest personalities basketball has ever seen, and his rookie season was one of the most memorable in NBA history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tim Duncan (1997-1998)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/duncati01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Tim Duncan\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duncati01.html\">Tim Duncan<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Timothy Theodore Duncan<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(Timmy, The Big Fundamental, Groundhog Day, Old Man Riverwalk, The Stone Buddha)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Center and Power Forward\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-11<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>250lb<\/span>&nbsp;(211cm,&nbsp;113kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1976-04-25\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=4&amp;day=25\">April 25<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1976\">1976<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span>(Age:&nbsp;48-101d)<\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;St. Croix,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=VI&amp;state=\">U.S. Virgin Islands<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-vi\">vi<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      College:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/colleges.fcgi?college=wake\">Wake Forest<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High School:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      Saint Dunstan&#8217;s Episcopal in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/SAS\/draft.html\">San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_1997.html\">1997 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/199710310DEN.html\">October 31, 1997<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Hall of Fame:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 2020 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/hof.html\">Full List<\/a>)\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Career Length:<\/strong>&nbsp;19 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"important special\"><a>Hall of Fame<\/a><\/li><li class=\"all_star\"><a>15x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>5x NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>15x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>15x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1997-98 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1997-98 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>3x Finals MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>1999-00 AS MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>2x MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>1392<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>19.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>10.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>3.0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>50.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>17.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>69.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>50.7<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>24.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p><\/p>\n<p>206.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The San Antonio Spurs curiously went 20-62 in the \u201896-\u201997 season and were able to land Tim Duncan as the top pick overall. This four-year Wake Forest post presence catapulted the franchise to a two-decade run as a Western Conference power. Duncan appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duncati01\/gamelog\/1998\/\">all 82 games as a rookie<\/a> and helped the Spurs turn 20-62 into 56-26. He posted 21.1 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 2,5 bpg, and was .549 % from the field. Not only was he the runaway <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_1998.html#all_roy\">Rookie of the Year<\/a> \u2026 he was an All-Star, fifth in the MVP race, and a First-Team All-NBA player. Paired with David Robinson, Duncan and the Admiral formed Twin Towers in San Antonio, and NBA titles eventually were remembered near the Alamo \u2026 often. Timmy had 57 double-doubles as a rookie (fourth most in league history), and he also had 14 games with at least 5 blocks. His consistency at both ends of the floor got the Spurs to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/playoffs\/1998-nba-western-conference-semifinals-spurs-vs-jazz.html\">WC Semifinals<\/a>, and the foundation for future success was built by the River Walk. Tim Duncan was one of the under-the-radar stars in NBA history, and his phenomenal rookie season helped the Spurs to one of the best single-season turnarounds ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">LeBron James (2003-2004)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/jamesle01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of LeBron James\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\">LeBron James<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>LeBron Raymone James<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/kingjames\">kingjames<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets, Captain LeMerica)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-9<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>250lb<\/span>&nbsp;(206cm,&nbsp;113kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/2026.html\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1984-12-30\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=12&amp;day=30\">December 30<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1984\">1984<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;40-293d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Akron,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=OH\">Ohio<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-us\" style=\"\">us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  <p><strong>Relatives<\/strong>: Son&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesbr02.html\">Bronny&nbsp;James<\/a> <\/p>\n  \n\n  \n  <p>\n    <strong>\n    \n      High School:\n    \n    <\/strong>\n    \n      St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/high_schools.fcgi?country=US&amp;state=OH\">Ohio<\/a>\n    \n  <\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>Recruiting Rank: <\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/recruit_rankings_2003.html\">2003<\/a> (1)\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/CLE\/draft.html\">Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2003.html\">2003 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/200310290SAC.html\">October 29, 2003<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;22 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>21x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2007-08 Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2019-20 AST Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>4x NBA Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>21x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2003-04 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2003-04 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>3x AS MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>6x All-Defensive<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>4x MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>4x Finals MVP<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>NBA 75th Anniv. Team<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 IST MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=32\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#907d58\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#01553a\">32<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#907d58\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#01553a\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#01553a\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#8b0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=9\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">9<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#000000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b0000\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#8b0000\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#8b7500\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=23\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">23<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=6\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#14325E\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#E82534\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"15\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#FFFFFF\">6<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+10<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>70<\/p>\n<p>1562<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>24.4<\/p>\n<p>27.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>7.8<\/p>\n<p>7.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>8.2<\/p>\n<p>7.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>51.3<\/p>\n<p>50.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>37.6<\/p>\n<p>34.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>78.2<\/p>\n<p>73.7<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>57.1<\/p>\n<p>54.8<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>22.7<\/p>\n<p>26.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>7.7<\/p>\n<p>271.4<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been over 20 years since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01\/gamelog\/2004\/\">LeBron\u2019s landmark NBA debut season<\/a>. That first game in Sacramento on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/200310290SAC.html\">October 29, 2003<\/a>, an 18-year-old James had 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals, and he has gone on to have maybe the greatest career ever since that night. As a rookie, the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer averaged 20.9 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.5 rpg, and 1.6 spg. He is one of only five rookies ever to post 20-5-5; The Big O and MJ are also on that hallowed list. LBJ beat out other sensational rookies Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_2004.html#all_roy\">ROY award<\/a>. The Cleveland Cavs didn\u2019t make the playoffs, but LBJ helped them improve by 18 games. When comparing James\u2019s rookie season to other greats, it is important to note the level of hype and pressure placed on him prior to starting his career, and King James delivered immediately. In all of professional sports history, few young athletes have had to deal with momentous expectations like this Akron native. Taking that into perspective makes his phenomenal rookie year even greater. LeBron actually finished <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_2004.html#all_mvp\">ninth in MVP voting as a rookie<\/a>. The fact that he won 35 games with a roster that wasn\u2019t exactly the \u201886 Celtics further demonstrates his impact. LeBron James may be the greatest player in league history, but without question he had one of the best NBA rookie seasons ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Luka Doncic (2018-2019)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"info\" class=\"players open\">\n\t<div id=\"meta\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"media-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" itemscope=\"image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/req\/202106291\/images\/headshots\/doncilu01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Luka Don\u010di\u0107\">\n<\/div><!-- div.media-item --><div>\n\t<h2>\n\t\t<span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n  <!-- all other pages -->\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n  \n  <p><strong>Pronunciation<\/strong>: \\LOO-kuh DON-chitch\\<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  <strong>Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/strong>\n  <\/strong>\n  \n  \u25aa\n  Instagram:\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/lukadoncic\">lukadoncic<\/a>\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n(The Matador, El Matador, Cool Hand, The Don, Wonder Boy, El Ni\u00f1o Maravilla, Swaggy L, Luka Legend, Too Easy, Luka Magic)\n<\/p>\n  \n\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Position:\n  <\/strong>\n  Point Guard and Shooting Guard\n\n\n  \n  \u25aa\n  \n  <strong>\n  Shoots:\n  <\/strong>\n  Right\n<\/p>\n\n\n  <p><span>6-6<\/span>,&nbsp;<span>230lb<\/span>&nbsp;(198cm,&nbsp;104kg) <\/p>\n\n  \n    <p><strong>Team<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/2026.html\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/p>\n  \n\n  \n    <p>\n  <strong>Born: <\/strong>\n    <span id=\"necro-birth\" data-birth=\"1999-02-28\">\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthdays.fcgi?month=2&amp;day=28\">February 28<\/a>,\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthyears.fcgi?year=1999\">1999<\/a>\n    <\/span> <span><nobr>(Age:&nbsp;26-233d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n  <span>\n    in&nbsp;Ljubljana,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/birthplaces.fcgi?country=SI&amp;state=\">Slovenia<\/a><\/span>\n  <span class=\"f-i f-si\" style=\"\">si<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>\n  Draft:\n  <\/strong>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/ATL\/draft.html\">Atlanta Hawks<\/a>, 1st round (3rd pick, 3rd overall), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/draft\/NBA_2018.html\">2018 NBA Draft<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n<p>\n  <strong>NBA Debut: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201810170PHO.html\">October 17, 2018<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n  \n\n  \n<p>\n  \n    <strong>Experience:<\/strong>&nbsp;7 years\n  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n    \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- div#meta -->\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n<ul id=\"bling\">\n\n<li class=\"all_star\"><a>5x All Star<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 Scoring Champ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a>5x All-NBA<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2018-19 All-Rookie<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2018-19 ROY<\/a><\/li><li class=\" poptip\"><a>2023-24 WCF MVP<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"uni_holder bbr\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=77\" class=\"poptip\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#000080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#0000ff\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">77<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=77\" class=\"poptip default\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0,0,42,52\" class=\"jersey\"> <rect fill=\"#800080\" height=\"52\" width=\"42\" y=\"0\" x=\"0\"><\/rect> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"0\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"18\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"5\" cx=\"42\"><\/ellipse> <ellipse fill=\"white\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke=\"#ffd700\" ry=\"7\" rx=\"7\" cy=\"0\" cx=\"21\"><\/ellipse> <text x=\"9\" y=\"39\" fill=\"#ffffff\">77<\/text> <\/svg>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t<div class=\"counter opener\" data-class=\"open\" data-id=\"info\" data-control-id=\"meta_more_button\" data-type=\"hide_after\" data-has-listener=\"true\">+1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"stats_pullout\">\n<div><div>\n<span><strong>SUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n<p><strong>2024-25<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"p1\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>G<\/strong><\/span><p>50<\/p>\n<p>450<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PTS<\/strong><\/span><p>28.2<\/p>\n<p>28.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>TRB<\/strong><\/span><p>8.2<\/p>\n<p>8.6<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>AST<\/strong><\/span><p>7.7<\/p>\n<p>8.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p2\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG%<\/strong><\/span><p>45.0<\/p>\n<p>46.8<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FG3%<\/strong><\/span><p>36.8<\/p>\n<p>35.0<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>FT%<\/strong><\/span><p>78.2<\/p>\n<p>75.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>eFG%<\/strong><\/span><p>53.6<\/p>\n<p>54.2<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"p3\">\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>PER<\/strong><\/span><p>24.1<\/p>\n<p>25.5<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div>\n<span class=\"poptip\"><strong>WS<\/strong><\/span><p>5.9<\/p>\n<p>57.1<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Slovenian prodigy is now one of the NBA\u2019s best players, and that ascension started with one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01\/gamelog\/2019\/\">best rookie seasons in history<\/a>. Luka Doncic meteorically graced the league in 2018 and quickly showed why he generated so much buzz in Europe. Ironically, as one stellar European was beginning in Dallas, one was in his final year: Dirk Nowitzki. Along with The Big O, MJ, and King James, Doncic was a part of the 20-5-5 club as a rookie: 21.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 6 apg. Luka also notched eight triple-doubles in his debut year. Even though his Dallas Mavericks didn\u2019t make the postseason, they improved by nine wins from the previous season, and the franchise torch was passed to the right guy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/201904090DAL.html\">The Matador\u2019s best game of his rookie season<\/a> may have been his last one: 21 points, 16 boards, and 11 dimes in a win over Phoenix. Luka\u2019s captivating play easily took home the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/awards\/awards_2019.html#all_roy\">Rookie of the Year<\/a> hardware over Trae Young. Luka Doncic is a top-five NBA star, and it all started with one of the best rookie seasons ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1722798727159\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the best rookie game in NBA history?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Although it is incredibly subjective, it would be hard to argue a rookie ever had a better game than Wilt Chamberlain on January 25, 1960. That night The Big Dipper scored 58 points, grabbed 42 rebounds, dished 4 assists, and had a .585 field goal %. His Philadelphia Warriors beat the Detroit Pistons 127-117 when he played 47 out of 48 minutes.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1722798750823\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Has an NBA rookie ever scored 50?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Eight rookies have scored 50 points in a game: Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain (five times), Rick Barry, Earl Monroe, Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Allen Iverson, and Brandon Jennings.<br\/><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1722798772221\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Was Victor Wembanyama the best rookie ever?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Victor Wembanyama had a superb rookie year in 2023-24, but calling his rookie season the best ever would be a stretch. It would be hard to say anyone had a better rookie campaign than Wilt Chamberlain in 1959-1960 when he was named both the Rookie of the Year and MVP.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1722798803657\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Which NBA rookie scored the most points in a season?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Wilt Chamberlain scored the most points as an NBA rookie. In the 1959-1960 season, he scored 2,707 total points with a 37.6 ppg average.<br\/><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Join our Sports Reference Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<h3><strong><em>Of Statheads:<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stathead.com\/sport\/basketball\">Subscribe to Stathead<\/a>, the most powerful research tools in sports, and find any player, team, season, game, and any play. 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Bringing you stats, trivia, and more on all our channels daily.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bball_ref\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Twitter<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/basketball.reference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Basketball.Reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@basketball.reference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TikTok<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/sportsreference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a> &#8211;  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SportsReference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reddit<\/a> &#8211; <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/sports-reference-llc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><em>Follow the rest of the Sports Reference sites on social <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/blog\/sports-reference-social-media\/\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(last updated on October 19, 2025) Let\u2019s continue our look at the greatest rookie years in NBA history. As a reminder, to qualify for this list, you had to actually win the Rookie of the Year award, so guys like Magic Johnson and Dwyane Wade, who were rousing rookies, won\u2019t be eligible. Another major factor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[3,39,40],"class_list":["post-731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-top-10-lists","tag-basketball","tag-nba","tag-nba-history"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Best NBA Rookie Seasons of All Time (Part Two) - Basketball Reference Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Check out this list of greatest NBA rookie seasons on basketball-reference.com.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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