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

> 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.

*By YPB Team · Published April 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-nba-rookie-of-the-year-award-winner-of-all-time*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   The 1999 ROY winner dazzled Toronto — and the world — with acrobatic athleticism that earned him the nickname 'Half-Man, Half-Amazing.'
12. **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**
   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**
   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**
   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**
   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.

Tags: sports, basketball, players, nba, legends, all-time