Top 29 NBA Rookies of the 2000s

Some of these debuts ended with the Rookie of the Year trophy; others lost the vote and went on to outgrow the winner. Judge each first season on its own merits.

1. 1
   Amar'e Stoudemire

   Won 2002-03 Rookie of the Year with Phoenix, averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds after being drafted straight out of high school.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Caron Butler

   Averaged 15.4 points and 1.8 steals for Miami in 2002-03 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
   900pts
3. 3
   Chris Bosh

   Averaged 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Toronto in 2003-04 after going fourth in the 2003 draft.
   812pts
4. 4
   Ben Gordon

   Averaged 15.1 points off Chicago's bench in 2004-05 and became the first rookie to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.
   771pts
5. 5
   Brook Lopez

   Averaged 13.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for New Jersey in 2008-09 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
   771pts
6. 6
   Kenyon Martin

   The first pick of the 2000 draft averaged 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds for New Jersey and finished second in 2000-01 Rookie of the Year voting.
   750pts
7. 7
   LeBron James

   Won 2003-04 Rookie of the Year with Cleveland after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists at age 19.
   750pts
8. 8
   Jason Richardson

   Won the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest as a Golden State rookie and averaged 14.4 points in 2001-02.
   750pts
9. 9
   Carmelo Anthony

   Averaged 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds for Denver in 2003-04, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting as the Nuggets reached the playoffs.
   750pts
10. 10
    Derrick Rose

    Won 2008-09 Rookie of the Year with his hometown Chicago Bulls, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists in 81 games.
    750pts
11. 11
    Stephen Curry

    Averaged 17.5 points, 5.9 assists and 1.9 steals for Golden State in 2009-10 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
    680pts
12. 12
    Dwight Howard

    Joined Orlando straight from high school and averaged 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while playing all 82 games in 2004-05.
    680pts
13. 13
    O.J. Mayo

    Averaged 18.5 points in all 82 games for Memphis in 2008-09 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
    680pts
14. 14
    Mike Miller

    Won 2000-01 Rookie of the Year with Orlando, averaging 11.9 points and shooting 40.7 percent from three in 82 games.
    600pts
15. 15
    Yao Ming

    Averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds for Houston in 2002-03 and was voted an All-Star starter as a rookie.
    507pts
16. 16
    Emeka Okafor

    Won 2004-05 Rookie of the Year with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, averaging 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds.
    507pts
17. 17
    Chris Paul

    Won 2005-06 Rookie of the Year with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, averaging 16.1 points, 7.8 assists and 2.2 steals.
    507pts
18. 18
    Brandon Roy

    Won 2006-07 Rookie of the Year with Portland, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 57 games.
    507pts
19. 19
    Tyreke Evans

    Won 2009-10 Rookie of the Year with Sacramento, averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
    400pts
20. 20
    Andre Iguodala

    Started all 82 games for Philadelphia in 2004-05, averaging 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
    400pts
21. 21
    Eric Gordon

    Averaged 16.1 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008-09 after being picked seventh in the 2008 draft.
    400pts
22. 22
    Kevin Durant

    Won 2007-08 Rookie of the Year with 20.3 points per game for the Seattle SuperSonics in their final season in Seattle.
    400pts
23. 23
    Al Horford

    Averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds for Atlanta in 2007-08 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
    400pts
24. 24
    Tony Parker

    Became San Antonio's starting point guard as a 19-year-old in 2001-02 and was named to the All-Rookie First Team.
    400pts
25. 25
    Pau Gasol

    Won 2001-02 Rookie of the Year with Memphis, averaging 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in all 82 games.
    400pts
26. 26
    Dwyane Wade

    Averaged 16.2 points and 4.5 assists for Miami in 2003-04 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
    273pts
27. 27
    Russell Westbrook

    Averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists in all 82 games for Oklahoma City in 2008-09.
    273pts
28. 28
    Brandon Jennings

    Scored 55 points against Golden State in November 2009 and averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 assists for Milwaukee in 2009-10.
    273pts
29. 29
    Andrei Kirilenko

    Averaged 10.7 points, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals in all 82 games for Utah in 2001-02.
    273pts

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