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Top 5 Best Rookie Seasons NBA History Has Witnessed
Rookie seasons are about getting acclimated to the league, right? Well, not for these five players. These players didn’t just “have a good rookie year”—they blew the doors off expectations and set the bar for everyone who came after them.
While their performances are some of the best rookie seasons NBA history has ever seen, it’s hard not to think about the NBA’s top 5 what-if careers. What if their paths had gone a different direction? That being said, let’s look at the rookie seasons that set a new standard for what rookies can achieve in their first year.
5 Greatest Rookie Seasons in NBA History
Wilt Chamberlain (1960-1961)
If there’s one rookie who set the tone in their first season in the NBA, it’s Wilt Chamberlain. He averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game and ensured everyone knew his name. His numbers didn’t just impress—they cemented him at the top of the best rookie seasons in NBA history list.
Chamberlain put on a clinic in his first year, even dropping a 55-point performance. Seriously, who does that in their rookie season? By the end of his debut year, Chamberlain had already exceeded all rookie of the year predictions and proved he was one of the top NBA rookies ever. Talk about setting a standard for everyone else.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1970)
Forget “The Big O,” because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar truly put the Bucks on the map. In his rookie season, Abdul-Jabbar played like he had been in the NBA for years, averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.
Abdul-Jabbar’s combination of size, skill, and dominance made his rookie year an instant classic for those keeping track. This guy might take the top spot if we’re talking about the best NBA rookie of all time. His rookie season was just a taste of what the rest of his career would look like, and it’s no surprise he’s considered one of the top 20 NBA players of all time.
Magic Johnson (1979-1980)
Magic Johnson didn’t need much time to make his mark in the NBA. Putting up 18 points, 7.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game, coming in as a serious force on both ends of the floor. But what set him apart wasn’t just his numbers—it was how he transformed the Lakers’ offense and helped guide them to an NBA title in his very first season.
When discussing the best rookie seasons in NBA history, Johnson’s name has to be in the discussion. His playmaking and ability to play all five positions made him a unicorn in his time, setting the standard for rookies for generations to come. When comparing it to Wemby’s historic rookie season, both players changed the expectations for what a rookie could do, though Johnson’s immediate championship success set a higher bar.
Larry Bird (1979-1980)
In 1979, the NBA wasn’t ready for the kind of impact Larry Bird was about to have. His rookie season was one of the most memorable in history, as Bird came in with a chip on his shoulder and averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. By the end of the season, Bird had the Boston Celtics playing at a higher level and was considered a clear candidate for having the best NBA rookie season ever.
Bird’s rookie year proved that he was not just one of the best NBA rookies ever to hit the floor, but also one of the best scorers to pick up a ball. Whether it was his scoring from inside the arc or midrange game, Bird was a threat anywhere on the court and a handful to defend. He wasn’t just a standout; as one of the best non-lottery picks in the NBA, Bird proved that being overlooked didn’t mean being unworthy.
Michael Jordan (1984-1985)
Let’s just say, when Michael Jordan entered the NBA, the league didn’t know what was coming. Jordan was already a star in the making with an average of 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. In his rookie season, he won the Rookie of the Year award and proved to the world that he was here to stay.
By the end of his rookie season, Jordan had already set himself apart as a legitimate threat to the rest of the league. His rookie NBA All-Star game appearance was living proof that NBA rising stars who should earn their first All-Star selection don’t always need time to warm up.
The debate constantly circles back to Wilt Chamberlain regarding the best rookie seasons in NBA history. The guy averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game—yeah, you read that right. His debut year was more than just impressive; it was a statement that set the bar impossibly high for all future rookies. As for whether an NBA rookie has ever won the MVP, the answer is yes. Chamberlain pulled it off in 1960, and since then, only one other player has matched it: Magic Johnson in 1980.
