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Ranking the 20 greatest rookie seasons in NBA history

By Elaine Blum

Jul 7, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports /
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Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by: Ron Kuntz Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

After declining an offer from the Harlem Globetrotters, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came to the NBA as the number one draft pick in 1969. Averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds, he led the Milwaukee Bucks to an incredible turnaround that resulted in a second seed in the East. Both averages were good to rank third in the entire NBA, earning him a spot in the All-Star game for the first time. He also did not give any other rookie a chance to win Rookie of the Year and even placed third in MVP votes in his very first season as a professional.

As his team made it to the playoffs, Abdul-Jabbar became only the second rookie to score 40 or more points and grab at least 25 rebounds in a playoff game. He also set a record of having at least 10 games with 20 or more points in the playoff, which did not get broken until Jayson Tatum’s playoff run in 2018.

This historic rookie campaign was only the beginning, though. Over his career, Abdul-Jabbar won six titles, two Finals MVPs, and six league MVPs, and made 19 All-Star games, 10 All-NBA First Teams, and five All-Defensive First Teams. He also led the league in rebounding in 1976, in blocks four times over his career, and twice in scoring. Up to this date, he is still the NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played, field goals made, and field goal percentage.