NBA: The 25 worst players to ever win Rookie of the Year

NBA: The 25 worst players to ever win Rookie of the Year: 22. Mark Jackson

For many players on this list, a strong rookie campaign earned them Rookie of the Year honors above other players who would go on to have better careers. Most of them were deserving of the award based on the one season, but can’t lay claim to the crown of the best player from that class.

Mark Jackson is the poster child for this path to the list, as he was prolific as a ball-distributing point guard right out of the gate. Drafted 18th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft, Jackson wasted no time proving himself to the league and the 17 teams that passed on him. He dropped 13.6 points and 10.6 dimes per game his rookie year, the latter number checked in at third in the entire league that season.

The following year, Jackson would earn his first and only All-Star nod, as point guards who excelled on passing and defense weren’t highly sought after for end-of-year awards. Jackson did lead the league in assists in 1996-97, boosted by a half-season running the Denver Nuggets‘ fast-paced offense before returning to the Indiana Pacers. In the end, Jackson played 1,296 games in his career, 26th-most all-time, and ranks fourth in career assists with 10,334.

Jackson dominated the Rookie of the Year race, with 77 of a possible 80 points. Of the players to make the All-Rookie first team (the second team didn’t come along until the following season) Jackson had by far the best career. Yet his draft class is actually populated with future Hall of Fame players: Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller started slowly as rookies, while David Robinson was serving his two years with the United States Navy. Horace Grant and Kevin Johnson both accrued more end-of-year accolades during their careers. Jackson earned the award, but his standing in that class quickly slipped from there.