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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LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images /

13. LeBron James

LeBron James is Victor Wembanyama’s predecessor as the most-hyped NBA prospect in recent memory. James entered the draft straight out of high school and was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite being a teenager, James did not disappoint, averaging 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.

In his very first game as a pro, The King scored 25 points against the Sacramento Kings, which was the most points scored in an NBA debut by any player to come to the league straight out of high school. He was also only the third rookie in history at that time to average a 20-5-5 stat line. Not surprisingly, James won every Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honor and was voted Rookie of the Year, beating Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade.

By now, James is one of the most accomplished NBA players ever with four NBA titles, four MVPs, and 19 All-Star selections under his belt. This past season, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer and despite being in year 20 of his storied career, he is still competing at the highest level.