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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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

12. Allen Iverson

The Philadelphia 76ers star is easily one of the most iconic players of his generation. Entering the 1996-97 season as the shortest number-one pick in the NBA draft, Allen Iverson immediately set the league on fire. Averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.1 steals, he won Rookie of the Year in an incredibly strong class that featured all-time greats like Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash.

Iverson immediately made himself known as a scoring force. Putting up 30 points and 6 assists in his very first game as a pro, he tied Willie Anderson for the third-highest scoring game in a rookie guard debut. Not long after, he scored 37 points against a dominant Chicago Bulls team and crossed over Michael Jordan with an iconic move. Following that, Iverson broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record of the most consecutive 40-plus-point games as a rookie by scoring at least 40 points five straight times.

After a memorable entrance to the league, Iverson continued his career in pretty much the same fashion, making 11 All-Star games, winning the 2001 MVP, leading the league in scoring 4 times and in steals for three consecutive seasons.