# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published October 31, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-25-best-nba-rookies-of-the-2010s*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Blake Griffin** — score 1000/1000
   Clippers forward who won 2011 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 22.5 points and a Slam Dunk Contest title.
2. **Luka Dončić** — score 829/1000
   Mavericks star who won 2019 Rookie of the Year with 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
3. **Ben Simmons** — score 789/1000
   76ers point forward who won 2018 Rookie of the Year with 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
4. **Trae Young** — score 663/1000
   Hawks guard who finished runner-up for 2019 Rookie of the Year with 19.1 points and 8.1 assists.
5. **Deandre Ayton** — score 609/1000
   Suns center and first overall pick who posted 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a 2018-19 rookie.
6. **Andrew Wiggins** — score 609/1000
   Timberwolves wing and 2015 Rookie of the Year who scored 16.9 points a night as a 19-year-old.
7. **DeMarcus Cousins** — score 473/1000
   Kings center named to the 2011 All-Rookie First Team with 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds.
8. **Kristaps Porziņģis** — score 473/1000
   Knicks 'unicorn' big man who went from draft-night boos to 2016 All-Rookie First Team.
9. **Donovan Mitchell** — score 473/1000
   Jazz guard who scored 20.5 points as a rookie in 2017-18 and won that year's Slam Dunk Contest.
10. **Michael Carter-Williams** — score 473/1000
   76ers point guard who won 2014 Rookie of the Year after a near quadruple-double in his debut.
11. **Malcolm Brogdon** — score 473/1000
   Bucks guard and 2017 Rookie of the Year, the first second-round pick to win it in the modern era.
12. **Anthony Davis** — score 387/1000
   Hornets big man and first overall pick who made the 2013 All-Rookie First Team.
13. **Devin Booker** — score 387/1000
   Suns guard who made the 2016 All-Rookie First Team as the league's youngest player.
14. **Victor Oladipo** — score 387/1000
   Magic guard who finished runner-up for 2014 Rookie of the Year with 13.8 points per game.
15. **Jayson Tatum** — score 284/1000
   Celtics forward who started as a 19-year-old rookie and carried Boston to the 2018 conference finals.
16. **Kyrie Irving** — score 284/1000
   Cavaliers point guard and 2012 Rookie of the Year who averaged 18.5 points in a lockout season.
17. **Karl-Anthony Towns** — score 284/1000
   Timberwolves center who won 2016 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
18. **Ja Morant** — score 284/1000
   Grizzlies point guard who won 2020 Rookie of the Year and led Memphis into the play-in.
19. **Joel Embiid** — score 284/1000
   76ers center whose 31-game 2016-17 debut produced 20.2 points and the 'Trust the Process' craze.
20. **John Wall** — score 284/1000
   Wizards point guard and first overall pick who was 2011 Rookie of the Year runner-up with 8.3 assists.
21. **Klay Thompson** — score 284/1000
   Warriors sharpshooter named to the 2012 All-Rookie First Team in his lockout-season debut.
22. **Bradley Beal** — score 0/1000
   Wizards shooting guard named to the 2013 All-Rookie First Team after averaging 13.9 points.
23. **Damian Lillard** — score 0/1000
   Trail Blazers guard who won 2013 Rookie of the Year unanimously with 19 points per game.
24. **Zion Williamson** — score 0/1000
   Pelicans forward who averaged 22.5 points in a 24-game 2019-20 rookie season.
25. **Ricky Rubio** — score 0/1000
   Spanish point guard whose flashy 2011-12 debut with the Timberwolves made him a League Pass sensation.

Tags: basketball, nba, 2010s, rookies