The 25 Best NBA Rookies of the 2010s

A decade of draft-night gambles judged on year one alone: unanimous award winners sit beside injury-shortened debuts and a second-round surprise.

1. 1
   Blake Griffin

   Clippers forward who won 2011 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 22.5 points and a Slam Dunk Contest title.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Luka Dončić

   Mavericks star who won 2019 Rookie of the Year with 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
   829pts
3. 3
   Ben Simmons

   76ers point forward who won 2018 Rookie of the Year with 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
   789pts
4. 4
   Trae Young

   Hawks guard who finished runner-up for 2019 Rookie of the Year with 19.1 points and 8.1 assists.
   663pts
5. 5
   Deandre Ayton

   Suns center and first overall pick who posted 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a 2018-19 rookie.
   609pts
6. 6
   Andrew Wiggins

   Timberwolves wing and 2015 Rookie of the Year who scored 16.9 points a night as a 19-year-old.
   609pts
7. 7
   DeMarcus Cousins

   Kings center named to the 2011 All-Rookie First Team with 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds.
   473pts
8. 8
   Kristaps Porziņģis

   Knicks 'unicorn' big man who went from draft-night boos to 2016 All-Rookie First Team.
   473pts
9. 9
   Donovan Mitchell

   Jazz guard who scored 20.5 points as a rookie in 2017-18 and won that year's Slam Dunk Contest.
   473pts
10. 10
    Michael Carter-Williams

    76ers point guard who won 2014 Rookie of the Year after a near quadruple-double in his debut.
    473pts
11. 11
    Malcolm Brogdon

    Bucks guard and 2017 Rookie of the Year, the first second-round pick to win it in the modern era.
    473pts
12. 12
    Anthony Davis

    Hornets big man and first overall pick who made the 2013 All-Rookie First Team.
    387pts
13. 13
    Devin Booker

    Suns guard who made the 2016 All-Rookie First Team as the league's youngest player.
    387pts
14. 14
    Victor Oladipo

    Magic guard who finished runner-up for 2014 Rookie of the Year with 13.8 points per game.
    387pts
15. 15
    Jayson Tatum

    Celtics forward who started as a 19-year-old rookie and carried Boston to the 2018 conference finals.
    284pts
16. 16
    Kyrie Irving

    Cavaliers point guard and 2012 Rookie of the Year who averaged 18.5 points in a lockout season.
    284pts
17. 17
    Karl-Anthony Towns

    Timberwolves center who won 2016 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
    284pts
18. 18
    Ja Morant

    Grizzlies point guard who won 2020 Rookie of the Year and led Memphis into the play-in.
    284pts
19. 19
    Joel Embiid

    76ers center whose 31-game 2016-17 debut produced 20.2 points and the 'Trust the Process' craze.
    284pts
20. 20
    John Wall

    Wizards point guard and first overall pick who was 2011 Rookie of the Year runner-up with 8.3 assists.
    284pts
21. 21
    Klay Thompson

    Warriors sharpshooter named to the 2012 All-Rookie First Team in his lockout-season debut.
    284pts
22. 22
    Bradley Beal

    Wizards shooting guard named to the 2013 All-Rookie First Team after averaging 13.9 points.
    0pts
23. 23
    Damian Lillard

    Trail Blazers guard who won 2013 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 19 points per game.
    0pts
24. 24
    Zion Williamson

    Pelicans forward who averaged 22.5 points in a 24-game 2019-20 rookie season.
    0pts
25. 25
    Ricky Rubio

    Spanish point guard whose flashy 2011-12 debut with the Timberwolves made him a League Pass sensation.
    0pts

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