# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published November 6, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/top-29-nba-rookies-of-the-2000s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Amar'e Stoudemire** — score 1000/1000
   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.
2. **Caron Butler** — score 900/1000
   Averaged 15.4 points and 1.8 steals for Miami in 2002-03 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
3. **Chris Bosh** — score 812/1000
   Averaged 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Toronto in 2003-04 after going fourth in the 2003 draft.
4. **Ben Gordon** — score 771/1000
   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.
5. **Brook Lopez** — score 771/1000
   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.
6. **Kenyon Martin** — score 750/1000
   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.
7. **LeBron James** — score 750/1000
   Won 2003-04 Rookie of the Year with Cleveland after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists at age 19.
8. **Jason Richardson** — score 750/1000
   Won the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest as a Golden State rookie and averaged 14.4 points in 2001-02.
9. **Carmelo Anthony** — score 750/1000
   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.
10. **Derrick Rose** — score 750/1000
   Won 2008-09 Rookie of the Year with his hometown Chicago Bulls, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists in 81 games.
11. **Stephen Curry** — score 680/1000
   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.
12. **Dwight Howard** — score 680/1000
   Joined Orlando straight from high school and averaged 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while playing all 82 games in 2004-05.
13. **O.J. Mayo** — score 680/1000
   Averaged 18.5 points in all 82 games for Memphis in 2008-09 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
14. **Mike Miller** — score 600/1000
   Won 2000-01 Rookie of the Year with Orlando, averaging 11.9 points and shooting 40.7 percent from three in 82 games.
15. **Yao Ming** — score 507/1000
   Averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds for Houston in 2002-03 and was voted an All-Star starter as a rookie.
16. **Emeka Okafor** — score 507/1000
   Won 2004-05 Rookie of the Year with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, averaging 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds.
17. **Chris Paul** — score 507/1000
   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.
18. **Brandon Roy** — score 507/1000
   Won 2006-07 Rookie of the Year with Portland, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 57 games.
19. **Tyreke Evans** — score 400/1000
   Won 2009-10 Rookie of the Year with Sacramento, averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
20. **Andre Iguodala** — score 400/1000
   Started all 82 games for Philadelphia in 2004-05, averaging 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
21. **Eric Gordon** — score 400/1000
   Averaged 16.1 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008-09 after being picked seventh in the 2008 draft.
22. **Kevin Durant** — score 400/1000
   Won 2007-08 Rookie of the Year with 20.3 points per game for the Seattle SuperSonics in their final season in Seattle.
23. **Al Horford** — score 400/1000
   Averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds for Atlanta in 2007-08 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
24. **Tony Parker** — score 400/1000
   Became San Antonio's starting point guard as a 19-year-old in 2001-02 and was named to the All-Rookie First Team.
25. **Pau Gasol** — score 400/1000
   Won 2001-02 Rookie of the Year with Memphis, averaging 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in all 82 games.
26. **Dwyane Wade** — score 273/1000
   Averaged 16.2 points and 4.5 assists for Miami in 2003-04 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
27. **Russell Westbrook** — score 273/1000
   Averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists in all 82 games for Oklahoma City in 2008-09.
28. **Brandon Jennings** — score 273/1000
   Scored 55 points against Golden State in November 2009 and averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 assists for Milwaukee in 2009-10.
29. **Andrei Kirilenko** — score 273/1000
   Averaged 10.7 points, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals in all 82 games for Utah in 2001-02.

Tags: 2000s, basketball, players, nba, rookies