NBA Rookie of the Year

The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to the top rookie(s) of the regular season. Initiated following the 1952–53 NBA season, it confers the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, named after the former Philadelphia Warriors head coach. Since the 2022–23 NBA season, winners receive the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, named after the former Rookie of the Year winner, who also won the regular season MVP and All-Star Game MVP during his rookie season.

The winner is selected by a panel of United States and Canadian sportswriters and broadcasters,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> each casting first-, second-, and third-place votes (worth five points, three points, and one point, respectively). The player(s) with the highest point total, regardless of the number of first-place votes, wins the award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The most recent Rookie of the Year winner is Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs. Twenty-two winners were drafted first overall. Sixteen winners have also won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in their careers with Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld earning both honors the same season. Thirty of the non-active winners have been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Three seasons had joint winners—Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie in the Template:Nbay, Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in the Template:Nbay, and Elton Brand and Steve Francis in the 1999–2000 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Six players won the award unanimously (by capturing all of the first-place votes)—Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Victor Wembanyama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Patrick Ewing of Jamaica,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pau Gasol of Spain, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons of Australia, Andrew Wiggins of Canada, Luka Dončić of Slovenia, and Victor Wembanyama of France are the only winners not born in the United States. Three of these individuals have dual nationality by birth—Wiggins and Simmons have American fathers, and both of Irving's parents are Americans. Ewing immigrated to the Boston area at age 11, Irving moved to the United States at age 2, and Wiggins and Simmons moved to the U.S. while in high school. Gasol, Dončić, and Wembanyama are the only winners trained entirely outside the United States.

Chamberlain (Harlem Globetrotters), Gasol (FC Barcelona of Liga ACB and EuroLeague), Dončić (Real Madrid of Liga ACB and EuroLeague), LaMelo Ball (BC Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Los Angeles Ballers of the JBA, and the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL), and Wembanyama (Nanterre 92, ASVEL, and Metropolitans 92 of LNB Élite) all had professional careers outside the NBA prior to being drafted. Ball also had previously won the NBL Rookie of the Year Award.

Winners

Wilt Chamberlain won the award in the 1959–60 NBA season.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (formerly known as Lew Alcindor) won the award unanimously in the 1969–70 NBA season.

Larry Bird won the award in the 1979–80 NBA season.

Michael Jordan won the award in the 1984–85 NBA season.

Allen Iverson won the award in the 1996–97 NBA season.

Pau Gasol won the award in the 2001–02 NBA season.

LeBron James won the award in the 2003–04 NBA season.

Kevin Durant won the award in the 2007–08 NBA season.

Derrick Rose won the award in the 2008–09 NBA season.

Luka Dončić won the award in the 2018–19 NBA season.

Key

^	Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
*	Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as player
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame considerationTemplate:Efn
§	1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Player (in bold text)	Denotes unanimous winners
DP #	Draft pick number
DY	Draft year
T	Territorial pick

Rookie of the Year

Season	Player	Position	Nationality	Team	School/Prior Experience	DP #	DY
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:USA	Fort Wayne Pistons	Dayton	Template:Sort	1952
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Center	Template:Flagu	Baltimore Bullets	Long Island	Template:Sort	1953
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Milwaukee Hawks	LSU	Template:Sort	1954
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Rochester Royals	Saint Francis (PA)	Template:Sort	1955
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward	Template:Flagu	Boston Celtics	Holy Cross	Template:Sort	1956
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Philadelphia Warriors	Texas Southern	Template:Sort	1957
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward	Template:Flagu	Minneapolis Lakers	Seattle	Template:Sort	1958
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_a">Won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in same year.</ref>	Center	Template:Flagu	Philadelphia Warriors (2)	Kansas, Harlem Globetrotters	Template:Sort	1959
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Cincinnati Royals (2)	Cincinnati	Template:Sort/T	1960
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center	Template:Flagu	Chicago Packers (2)	Indiana	Template:Sort	1961
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Chicago Zephyrs (3)	Purdue	Template:Sort	1962
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_b">Though drafted in 1962 by the Cincinnati Royals, Jerry Lucas did not sign with the team until 1963 when he tried to sign with the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League instead. He ended up sitting out the year when the deal fell through. His rookie season with the Royals began in the Template:Nbay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Cincinnati Royals (3)	Ohio State	Template:Sort	1962<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_b />
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	New York Knicks	Grambling	Template:Sort	1964
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward	Template:Flagu	San Francisco Warriors (3)	Miami (FL)	Template:Sort	1965
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Detroit Pistons (2)	Syracuse	Template:Sort	1966
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Baltimore Bullets (4)	Winston-Salem State	Template:Sort	1967
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_a />	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Baltimore Bullets (5)	Louisville	Template:Sort	1968
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center	Template:Flagu	Milwaukee Bucks	UCLA	Template:Sort	1969
Template:Nbay<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_c">Denotes seasons in which joint winners were named</ref>	Template:Sortname*	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Boston Celtics (2)	Florida State	Template:Sort	1970
	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Portland Trail Blazers	Princeton	Template:Sort	1970
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Portland Trail Blazers (2)	UCLA	Template:Sort	1971
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Buffalo Braves	North Carolina (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1972
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Buffalo Braves (2)	Providence (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1973
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Golden State Warriors (4)	UCLA (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1974
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Phoenix Suns	Oklahoma (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1975
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Buffalo Braves (3)	Notre Dame (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1976
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard/forward	Template:Flagu	Phoenix Suns (2)	North Carolina (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1977
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Kansas City Kings (4)	North Carolina (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1978
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_d">Though drafted in 1978 by the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird opted to stay in college for his senior year and did not play in the NBA until 1979. His rookie season with the Celtics began in the Template:Nbay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	Forward	Template:Flagu	Boston Celtics (3)	Indiana State (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1978<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_d />
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Utah Jazz	Louisville (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1980
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	New Jersey Nets	Maryland (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1981
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward	Template:Flagu	San Diego Clippers (4)	DePaul (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1982
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Houston Rockets	Virginia (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1983
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Chicago Bulls	North Carolina (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1984
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center	Template:Flagu<ref group="lower-alpha">Patrick Ewing was born in Jamaica, but had become a naturalized United States citizen while playing college basketball at Georgetown.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	New York Knicks (2)	Georgetown (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1985
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward	Template:Flagu	Indiana Pacers	Auburn (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1986
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	New York Knicks (3)	St. John's (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1987
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Golden State Warriors (5)	Kansas State (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1988
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_f">Though drafted in 1987 by the San Antonio Spurs, David Robinson did not play in the NBA until 1989 due to commitments to the United States Navy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His rookie season with the Spurs began in the Template:Nbay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	Center	Template:Flagu	San Antonio Spurs	Navy (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1987<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_f />
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward	Template:Flagu	New Jersey Nets (2)	Syracuse (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1990
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward	Template:Flagu	Charlotte Hornets	UNLV (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1991
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Center	Template:Flagu	Orlando Magic	LSU (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1992
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Golden State Warriors (6)	Michigan (So.)	Template:Sort	1993
Template:Nbay<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_c />	Template:Sortname*	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Detroit Pistons (3)	Duke (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1994
	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Dallas Mavericks	California (So.)	Template:Sort	1994
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Toronto Raptors	Arizona (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1995
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard	Template:Flagu	Philadelphia 76ers	Georgetown (So.)	Template:Sort	1996
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/center	Template:Flagu<ref group="lower-alpha">Because Tim Duncan is a United States citizen by birth, as are all natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he was able to play for the U.S. internationally. He represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	San Antonio Spurs (2)	Wake Forest (Sr.)	Template:Sort	1997
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Guard/forward	Template:Flagu	Toronto Raptors (2)	North Carolina (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1998
Template:Nbay<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_c />	Template:Sortname	Forward	Template:Flagu	Chicago Bulls (2)	Duke (So.)	Template:Sort	1999
	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Houston Rockets (2)	Maryland (Jr.)	Template:Sort	1999
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Orlando Magic (2)	Florida (So.)	Template:Sort	2000
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/center	Template:ESP	Memphis Grizzlies	FC Barcelona (Spain)	Template:Sort	2001
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Phoenix Suns (3)	Cypress Creek HS (Orlando, Florida)	Template:Sort	2002
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Forward	Template:Flagu	Cleveland Cavaliers	St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio)	Template:Sort	2003
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Center/forward	Template:Flagu	Charlotte Bobcats (2)	UConn (Jr.)	Template:Sort	2004
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets	Wake Forest (So.)	Template:Sort	2005
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Portland Trail Blazers (3)	Washington (Sr.)	Template:Sort	2006
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Forward	Template:Flagu	Seattle SuperSonics	Texas (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2007
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname†	Guard	Template:Flagu	Chicago Bulls (3)	Memphis (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2008
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard/forward	Template:Flagu	Sacramento Kings (5)	Memphis (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2009
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname§<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_griffin">Though drafted in 2009 by the Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin missed the entire Template:Nbay due to a knee injury. His rookie season with the Clippers was the Template:Nbay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	Forward	Template:Flagu	Los Angeles Clippers (5)	Oklahoma (So.)	Template:Sort	2009<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_griffin />
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	Cleveland Cavaliers (2)	Duke (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2011
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	Portland Trail Blazers (4)	Weber St. (Jr.)	Template:Sort	2012
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Philadelphia 76ers (2)	Syracuse (So.)	Template:Sort	2013
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Forward/guard	Template:CAN	Minnesota Timberwolves	Kansas (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2014
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Center	Template:DOM<ref group="lower-alpha">Karl-Anthony Towns was born and raised in the United States to an American father and a Dominican mother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has represented the Dominican Republic internationally since 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>	Minnesota Timberwolves (2)	Kentucky (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2015
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname†	Guard	Template:Flagu	Milwaukee Bucks (2)	Virginia (Sr.)	Template:Sort	2016
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname†	Guard	Template:AUS	Philadelphia 76ers (3)	LSU (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2016<ref group="lower-alpha" name="note_simmons">Though drafted in 2016 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons missed the entire Template:Nbay due to a broken right foot. His rookie season with the Sixers was the Template:Nbay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref></ref>
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard/forward	Template:SLO	Dallas Mavericks (2)	Real Madrid (Spain)	Template:Sort	2018
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	Memphis Grizzlies (2)	Murray State (So.)	Template:Sort	2019
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	Charlotte Hornets (3)	Illawarra Hawks (Australia)	Template:Sort	2020
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Forward	Template:Flagu	Toronto Raptors (3)	Florida State (Fr.)	4	2021
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Forward	Template:Flagu	Orlando Magic (3)	Duke (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2022
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Center	Template:Flag	San Antonio Spurs (3)	Metropolitans 92 Template:Small	Template:Sort	2023
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname^	Guard	Template:Flagu	San Antonio Spurs (4)	UConn (Fr.)	Template:Sort	2024

Unofficial winners

Prior to the Template:Nbay season, the Rookie of the Year was selected by newspaper writers;<ref name=friedman>Template:Cite news</ref> however, the NBA does not officially recognize those players as winners. The league published the pre-1953 winners in their 1994–95 edition of the Official NBA Guide and the 1994 Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia, but those winners have not been listed in subsequent publications.<ref name=friedman /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Pre-1953 NBA Rookies of the Year

Season	Player	Position	Nationality	Team	DP #	DY
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard/forward	Template:Flagu	Baltimore Bullets	70	1947
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Guard/forward	Template:Flagu	Providence Steamrollers	Template:Sort	1949
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname	Center	Template:Flagu	Indianapolis Olympians	Template:Sort	1949
Template:Nbay	Template:Sortname*	Forward/guard	Template:Flagu	Philadelphia Warriors	Template:Sort	1950
Template:Nbay<ref group=lower-alpha name=note_c />	Template:Sortname	Guard	Template:Flagu	Indianapolis Olympians	Template:Sort	1951
	Template:Sortname	Forward/center	Template:Flagu	Milwaukee Hawks	Template:Sort	1951

Teams

Awards	Teams	Players	Years
6	Golden State Warriors / San Francisco Warriors / Philadelphia Warriors	Woody Sauldsberry, Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay (as Philadelphia) Template:Nbay (as San Francisco) Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
5	Los Angeles Clippers / San Diego Clippers / Buffalo Braves	Bob McAdoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Adrian Dantley, Terry Cummings, Blake Griffin	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay (as Buffalo) Template:Nbay (as San Diego) Template:Nbay
	Sacramento Kings / Kansas City Kings / Cincinnati Royals / Rochester Royals	Maurice Stokes, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Phil Ford, Tyreke Evans	Template:Nbay (as Rochester) Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay (as Cincinnati) Template:Nbay (as Kansas City) Template:Nbay
4	Portland Trail Blazers	Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy, Damian Lillard	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Washington Wizards / Baltimore Bullets / Chicago Zephyrs / Chicago Packers	Walt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld	Template:Nbay (as Chicago Packers) Template:Nbay (as Chicago Zephyrs) Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay (as Baltimore)
	San Antonio Spurs	David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
3	Boston Celtics	Tom Heinsohn, Dave Cowens, Larry Bird	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Charlotte Hornets / Charlotte Bobcats	Larry Johnson, Emeka Okafor, LaMelo Ball	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay (as Charlotte Bobcats), Template:Nbay
	Chicago Bulls	Michael Jordan, Elton Brand, Derrick Rose	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Detroit Pistons / Fort Wayne Pistons	Don Meineke, Dave Bing, Grant Hill	Template:Nbay (as Fort Wayne), Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	New York Knicks	Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Orlando Magic	Shaquille O'Neal, Mike Miller, Paolo Banchero	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Philadelphia 76ers	Allen Iverson, Michael Carter-Williams, Ben Simmons	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Phoenix Suns	Alvan Adams, Walter Davis, Amar'e Stoudemire	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Toronto Raptors	Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Scottie Barnes	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
2	Brooklyn Nets / New Jersey Nets	Buck Williams, Derrick Coleman	Template:Nbay (as New Jersey), Template:Nbay (as New Jersey)
	Cleveland Cavaliers	LeBron James, Kyrie Irving	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Dallas Mavericks	Jason Kidd, Luka Dončić	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Houston Rockets	Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Memphis Grizzlies	Pau Gasol, Ja Morant	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Milwaukee Bucks	Lew Alcindor, Malcolm Brogdon	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
	Minnesota Timberwolves	Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns	Template:Nbay, Template:Nbay
1	Atlanta Hawks / Milwaukee Hawks	Bob Pettit	Template:Nbay (as Milwaukee)
	Baltimore Bullets	Ray Felix	Template:Nbay
	Indiana Pacers	Chuck Person	Template:Nbay
	Los Angeles Lakers / Minneapolis Lakers	Elgin Baylor	Template:Nbay (as Minneapolis)
	New Orleans Pelicans / Oklahoma City Hornets	Chris Paul	Template:Nbay (as New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets)
	Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics	Kevin Durant	Template:Nbay (as Seattle)
	Utah Jazz	Darrell Griffith	Template:Nbay
0	Denver Nuggets	None
	Miami Heat

See also

• NBA G League Rookie of the Year Award
• NBA Rookie of the Month Award
• NBL (United States) Rookie of the Year Award
• List of NBA regular season records

References

General

• Template:Cite web
• Template:Cite web

Specific