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 Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images /

3. Oscar Robertson

Anytime you nearly average a triple-double in your rookie season, you’ll have a good chance of making a list like this. “The Big O” wasn’t just close, he was 0.3 assists per game away from doing it. Again…as a rookie!

Oscar Robertson averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and a league-leading 9.7 assists in his rookie year, easily winning Rookie of the Year honors and beginning the first of his nine straight All-NBA First Team selections.

Robertson’s Cincinnati Royals improved from 19 wins to 33, and while that was not yet good enough for a playoff berth, they rode the momentum of his rookie season to six straight postseason berths in the decade.

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