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Who is the best NBA Rookie of the Year award winner of all time?

By YPB Team

Every season the NBA crowns a rookie who changes the league's future — but who was the greatest Rookie of the Year of all time? Vote for the player who made the biggest first impression.

  1. Wilt Chamberlain — ranked #11
    Wilt Chamberlain
    The 1960 ROY winner — and the award's namesake — averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds in one of the greatest rookie seasons ever played.
  2. Michael Jordan — ranked #22
    Michael Jordan
    The 1985 ROY winner launched one of the most celebrated careers in sports history, electrifying Chicago with his gravity-defying athleticism from day one.
  3. LeBron James — ranked #33
    LeBron James
    The 2004 ROY winner arrived as a generational phenomenon straight out of high school and lived up to every ounce of hype placed on him.
  4. Shaquille O'Neal — ranked #44
    Shaquille O'Neal
    The 1993 ROY winner entered the league as a physical force unlike anything seen before, immediately redefining what a dominant big man could be.
  5. Tim Duncan — ranked #55
    Tim Duncan
    The 1998 ROY winner arrived quietly in San Antonio and immediately showed the fundamentals and two-way excellence that would anchor a dynasty.
  6. Allen Iverson — ranked #66
    Allen Iverson
    The 1997 ROY winner burst onto the scene in Philadelphia as a crossover king whose fearless style changed the culture of the entire NBA.
  7. Kevin Durant — ranked #77
    Kevin Durant
    The 2008 ROY winner showed off an impossibly long and versatile scoring arsenal that would eventually make him one of the purest scorers the game has seen.
  8. Luka Doncic — ranked #88
    Luka Doncic
    The 2019 ROY winner stunned the league with a playmaking IQ and skill set far beyond his years, looking like a veteran from his very first game.
  9. Victor Wembanyama — ranked #99
    Victor Wembanyama
    The 2024 ROY winner brought a once-in-a-generation combination of 7-foot-4 length and perimeter shot-making that left coaches and scouts searching for comparisons.
  10. Blake Griffin — ranked #1010
    Blake Griffin
    The 2011 ROY winner turned the Los Angeles Clippers into must-see television with an explosion of high-flying dunks that made highlight reels nightly.
  11. Vince Carter — ranked #1111
    Vince Carter
    The 1999 ROY winner dazzled Toronto — and the world — with acrobatic athleticism that earned him the nickname 'Half-Man, Half-Amazing.'
  12. Derrick Rose — ranked #1212
    Derrick Rose
    The 2009 ROY winner lit up Chicago with blistering speed and a magnetic quality that would later see him become the youngest MVP in league history.
  13. Damian Lillard — ranked #1313
    Damian Lillard
    The 2013 ROY winner announced himself with game-winning clutch moments that foreshadowed a career-long reputation for delivering under the ultimate pressure.
  14. Ja Morant — ranked #1414
    Ja Morant
    The 2020 ROY winner brought jaw-dropping athleticism and highlight-reel plays to Memphis, immediately establishing himself as one of the league's most exciting players.
  15. LaMelo Ball — ranked #1515
    LaMelo Ball
    The 2021 ROY winner dazzled with no-look passes, pinpoint vision, and a magnetic presence that made Charlotte Hornets games essential viewing.
  16. Cooper Flagg — ranked #1616
    Cooper Flagg
    The 2026 ROY winner electrified the league with two-way excellence and veteran poise straight out of college, immediately drawing comparisons to all-time greats.

#sports635#basketball123#players565#nba97#legends373#all-time311

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Comments

Nineteen years separate the two winners, and Chamberlain then arrives with 37.6 points, 27.0 rebounds and an MVP award as a rookie: https://youpick.best/articles/lebron-james-vs-michael-jordan-ranked

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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