Wilt Chamberlain headlines 5 greatest rookie seasons in NBA history

5 greatest rookie seasons in NBA history

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17, 1973: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, center, of the Milwaukee Bucks reaches high over Willis Reed #19 of the New York Knicks to score 2 points of his total of 24 points during an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on November 17, 1973 on New York. Under the basket with Abdul-Jabbar and Willis Reed is Curtis Perry of the Bucks, and Phil Jackson (#18) of the Knicks. Walt Frazier, Point Guard of the Knicks, observes the action from the left of the photograph. The New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks by the score of 100 to 93. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

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Photo by: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images /

These five players began their careers with dominant seasons and early success ranking them among the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history.

One of the great injustices of the suspended 2019-20 NBA season is the lack of finality for Zion Williamson’s rookie season. Williamson’s 23.6 points per game ranks him 18th among all-time rookie seasons, rarefied air among some of the NBA’s all-time greats.

Williamson seemed on the path towards possibly having one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, but he still had a way to go to make the list of the greatest rookie seasons ever.

Since we’ve got nothing but time to kill until the return of NBA basketball, here’s a look at the five greatest rookie seasons in league history.

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