From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
NBA Rookie of the Year
National Basketball Association award
National Basketball Association award
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | NBA Rookie of the Year |
| sport | Basketball |
| league | National Basketball Association |
| givenfor | Best first year player in regular season of the National Basketball Association |
| first | |
| mostrecent | Stephon Castle |
| (San Antonio Spurs) |
(San Antonio Spurs)
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, 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.
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 , Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in the , and Elton Brand and Steve Francis in the 1999–2000 season. 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.
Patrick Ewing of Jamaica, 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
| ^ | * | † | § | Player | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in bold text) | DP # | DY | T | ||||
| 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 consideration | |||||||
| 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026 | |||||||
| Denotes unanimous winners | |||||||
| Draft pick number | |||||||
| Draft year | |||||||
| Territorial pick |
| Season | Player | Position | Nationality | Team | School/Prior Experience | DP # | DY | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ***** | * | * | * | ***** | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ^ | ^ | ^ | † | ****§ | ^ | ****^ | ^ | ****^ | † | † | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ****^ | ^ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward/center | Fort Wayne Pistons | Dayton | 1952 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | Baltimore Bullets | Long Island | 1953 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Milwaukee Hawks | LSU | 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Rochester Royals | Saint Francis (PA) | 1955 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Boston Celtics | Holy Cross | 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Philadelphia Warriors | Texas Southern | 1957 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Minneapolis Lakers | Seattle | 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | Philadelphia Warriors (2) | Kansas, Harlem Globetrotters | 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Cincinnati Royals (2) | Cincinnati | /T | 1960 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | Chicago Packers (2) | Indiana | 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Chicago Zephyrs (3) | Purdue | 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Cincinnati Royals (3) | Ohio State | 1962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | New York Knicks | Grambling | 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | San Francisco Warriors (3) | Miami (FL) | 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Detroit Pistons (2) | Syracuse | 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Baltimore Bullets (4) | Winston-Salem State | 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Baltimore Bullets (5) | Louisville | 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | Milwaukee Bucks | UCLA | 1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Boston Celtics (2) | Florida State | 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | Princeton | 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (2) | UCLA | 1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Buffalo Braves | North Carolina (Jr.) | 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Buffalo Braves (2) | Providence (Sr.) | 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Golden State Warriors (4) | UCLA (Sr.) | 1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Phoenix Suns | Oklahoma (Jr.) | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Buffalo Braves (3) | Notre Dame (Jr.) | 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard/forward | United States | Phoenix Suns (2) | North Carolina (Sr.) | 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Kansas City Kings (4) | North Carolina (Sr.) | 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Boston Celtics (3) | Indiana State (Jr.) | 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Utah Jazz | Louisville (Sr.) | 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | New Jersey Nets | Maryland (Jr.) | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | San Diego Clippers (4) | DePaul (Jr.) | 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Houston Rockets | Virginia (Sr.) | 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Chicago Bulls | North Carolina (Jr.) | 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | New York Knicks (2) | Georgetown (Sr.) | 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Indiana Pacers | Auburn (Sr.) | 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | New York Knicks (3) | St. John's (Sr.) | 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Golden State Warriors (5) | Kansas State (Sr.) | 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Navy (Sr.) | 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | New Jersey Nets (2) | Syracuse (Sr.) | 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Charlotte Hornets | UNLV (Sr.) | 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | United States | Orlando Magic | LSU (Jr.) | 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Golden State Warriors (6) | Michigan (So.) | 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Detroit Pistons (3) | Duke (Sr.) | 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Dallas Mavericks | California (So.) | 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Toronto Raptors | Arizona (Sr.) | 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Georgetown (So.) | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | San Antonio Spurs (2) | Wake Forest (Sr.) | 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard/forward | United States | Toronto Raptors (2) | North Carolina (Jr.) | 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Chicago Bulls (2) | Duke (So.) | 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Houston Rockets (2) | Maryland (Jr.) | 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Orlando Magic (2) | Florida (So.) | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | Memphis Grizzlies | FC Barcelona (Spain) | 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/center | United States | Phoenix Suns (3) | Cypress Creek HS (Orlando, Florida) | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | St. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio) | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center/forward | United States | Charlotte Bobcats (2) | UConn (Jr.) | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | Wake Forest (So.) | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (3) | Washington (Sr.) | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Seattle SuperSonics | Texas (Fr.) | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Chicago Bulls (3) | Memphis (Fr.) | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard/forward | United States | Sacramento Kings (5) | Memphis (Fr.) | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Los Angeles Clippers (5) | Oklahoma (So.) | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers (2) | Duke (Fr.) | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (4) | Weber St. (Jr.) | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Philadelphia 76ers (2) | Syracuse (So.) | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward/guard | Minnesota Timberwolves | Kansas (Fr.) | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | Minnesota Timberwolves (2) | Kentucky (Fr.) | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Milwaukee Bucks (2) | Virginia (Sr.) | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | Philadelphia 76ers (3) | LSU (Fr.) | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard/forward | Dallas Mavericks (2) | Real Madrid (Spain) | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Memphis Grizzlies (2) | Murray State (So.) | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | Charlotte Hornets (3) | Illawarra Hawks (Australia) | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Toronto Raptors (3) | Florida State (Fr.) | 4 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward | United States | Orlando Magic (3) | Duke (Fr.) | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Center | France | San Antonio Spurs (3) | Metropolitans 92 (France) | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guard | United States | San Antonio Spurs (4) | UConn (Fr.) | 2024 |
Unofficial winners
Prior to the season, the Rookie of the Year was selected by newspaper writers; 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.
| Season | Player | Position | Nationality | Team | DP # | DY | * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard/forward | United States | Baltimore Bullets | 70 | 1947 | |||
| Guard/forward | United States | Providence Steamrollers | 1949 | ||||
| Center | United States | Indianapolis Olympians | 1949 | ||||
| Forward/guard | United States | Philadelphia Warriors | 1950 | ||||
| Guard | United States | Indianapolis Olympians | 1951 | ||||
| Forward/center | United States | Milwaukee Hawks | 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 | , (as Philadelphia) |
| (as San Francisco) | |||
| , , | |||
| 5 | Los Angeles Clippers / San Diego Clippers / Buffalo Braves | Bob McAdoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Adrian Dantley, Terry Cummings, Blake Griffin | , , (as Buffalo) |
| (as San Diego) | |||
| Sacramento Kings / Kansas City Kings / Cincinnati Royals / Rochester Royals | Maurice Stokes, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Phil Ford, Tyreke Evans | (as Rochester) | |
| , (as Cincinnati) | |||
| (as Kansas City) | |||
| 4 | Portland Trail Blazers | Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy, Damian Lillard | , , , |
| Washington Wizards / Baltimore Bullets / Chicago Zephyrs / Chicago Packers | Walt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld | (as Chicago Packers) | |
| (as Chicago Zephyrs) | |||
| , (as Baltimore) | |||
| San Antonio Spurs | David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle | , , , | |
| 3 | Boston Celtics | Tom Heinsohn, Dave Cowens, Larry Bird | , , |
| Charlotte Hornets / Charlotte Bobcats | Larry Johnson, Emeka Okafor, LaMelo Ball | , (as Charlotte Bobcats), | |
| Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan, Elton Brand, Derrick Rose | , , | |
| Detroit Pistons / Fort Wayne Pistons | Don Meineke, Dave Bing, Grant Hill | (as Fort Wayne), , | |
| New York Knicks | Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson | , , | |
| Orlando Magic | Shaquille O'Neal, Mike Miller, Paolo Banchero | , , | |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Allen Iverson, Michael Carter-Williams, Ben Simmons | , , | |
| Phoenix Suns | Alvan Adams, Walter Davis, Amar'e Stoudemire | , , | |
| Toronto Raptors | Damon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Scottie Barnes | , , | |
| 2 | Brooklyn Nets / New Jersey Nets | Buck Williams, Derrick Coleman | (as New Jersey), (as New Jersey) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | LeBron James, Kyrie Irving | , | |
| Dallas Mavericks | Jason Kidd, Luka Dončić | , | |
| Houston Rockets | Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis | , | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Pau Gasol, Ja Morant | , | |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Lew Alcindor, Malcolm Brogdon | , | |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns | , | |
| 1 | Atlanta Hawks / Milwaukee Hawks | Bob Pettit | (as Milwaukee) |
| Baltimore Bullets | Ray Felix | ||
| Indiana Pacers | Chuck Person | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers / Minneapolis Lakers | Elgin Baylor | (as Minneapolis) | |
| New Orleans Pelicans / Oklahoma City Hornets | Chris Paul | (as New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets) | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonics | Kevin Durant | (as Seattle) | |
| Utah Jazz | Darrell Griffith | ||
| 0 | Denver Nuggets | None | |
| Miami Heat |
Notes
References
General
Specific
References
- (May 16, 2016). "Wolves' Towns named 2015–16 Kia Rookie of the Year".
- (May 3, 2007). "Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy Named 2006-07 T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
- (November 10, 2000). "Brand, Francis named NBA co-rookies of the year". CBC Sports.
- (May 16, 2016). "It's unanimous: Karl-Anthony Towns gets every first-place vote for Rookie of the Year". Minneapolis Star Tribune.
- (August 20, 2024). "Unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year Winners". GiveMeSport.
- (June 29, 2006). "Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick". People's Daily Online.
- "2026 Hall of Fame Candidates".
- "Jerry Lucas Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
- "Larry Bird Bio". Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.
- Ralph Wiley. (January 7, 1985). "The Master Of The Key: After years of relying on others to unlock doors for him, Georgetown's center Patrick Ewing will soon go off on his own".
- "All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: E". USA Basketball.
- Dave Anderson. (May 18, 1987). "Sports of the Times; The Robinson Plot Thickens". [[The New York Times]].
- "David Robinson". basketball-reference.com.
- "Virgin Islands". [[CIA World Factbook]].
- "All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster: D". USA Basketball.
- (January 13, 2010). "Griffin's rookie season lost to injury". ESPN.com.
- Zgoda, Jerry. (June 26, 2015). "Karl-Anthony Towns taken No.1 by Wolves; Tyus Jones acquired in trade with Cavaliers". Star Tribune.
- (June 16, 2012). "Calipari makes Dominican team roster cuts". WKYT.
- (February 24, 2017). "Philadelphia 76ers announce Ben Simmons done for season". NBA.com.
- Friedman, David. (March 2, 2009). "Bill Tosheff: NBA Co-Rookie of the Year and Tireless Advocate for the "Pre-1965ers". 20 Second Timeout.
- Goldstein, Allan. (October 30, 1994). "NBA forgot it honored Hoffman". The Baltimore Sun.
- Sachare, Alex. (1994). "The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia". [[Villard Books]].
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about NBA Rookie of the Year — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report