Hoops Habit
Fansided

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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Nov. 3, 1973; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Hawks center Walt Bellamy (8) defends Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens (18) during the 1973-74 season at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov. 3, 1973; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Hawks center Walt Bellamy (8) defends Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens (18) during the 1973-74 season at The Omni. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Walt Bellamy

In the 1961-62 season, Walt Bellamy impressed as a rookie for the Chicago Packers. The team selected him with the first pick that year and he put together a historic rookie campaign.

Bellamy averaged 31.6 points, which was at the time the second-highest ever by a rookie, and 19 rebounds, which was good for the third-best average by a rookie behind only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He also led the league in field goal percentage that same season. In light of this impressive season, Bellamy was voted to his first All-Star game as a rookie and, not much to anyone’s surprise, won Rookie of the Year.

Bellamy played 14 seasons in the NBA. Over that time, he made four All-Star appearances and won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. In 1993, Bellamy was introduced to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his individual career and then again in 2010 for his performance with the U.S. National Team.