Fansided

5 greatest rookie seasons in NBA history

By Rich Kraetsch

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)
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 Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images /

5. Magic Johnson

Fresh off winning an NCAA Tournament with the Michigan State Spartans, Magic Johnson brought his trademark smile, style and flair to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979-80. While his numbers aren’t jump-off-the-page great (18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game). It’s what he did to transform one of the NBA’s charter franchises that gets him on this list.

Johnson was exactly what the doctor had ordered for the Lakers, who hadn’t made the NBA Finals since 1973. While still a good team, they were missing … something. They needed one last piece to complete the puzzle. Enter Magic.

Johnson helped the Lakers improve to a 60-22 record and their first NBA Finals in seven years. There the Lakers would have to meet the dominant Philadelphia 76ers led by star forward “Dr. J” Julius Erving. The Lakers, spearheaded by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (we’ll touch on him later in this piece), helped get the Lakers to a 3-2 series lead. Unfortunately, Abdul-Jabbar sprained his ankle in Game 5 and was ruled out of Game 6.

It was at this moment Johnson took his rookie year to another level. Lakers coach Paul Westhead made the radical decision to start his rookie point guard at center in Game 6. Johnson responded, uh, admirably, to the tune of 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Johnson led the Lakers to a 123-107 win, an NBA championship and became the only rookie to win Finals MVP, and his clutch performance is still regarded as one of the finest in NBA history.

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