- Winning NBA Rookie of the Year doesn’t guarantee success.
- While some winners went on to be Hall of Famers, others didn’t live up to their potential.
- Based on their success in the NBA, we ranked the 26 most recent Rookies of Year.
It is not always a guarantee that a player in the NBA will be named Rookie of Year.
Some players have been successful, but others failed to live up the expectations of their rookie seasons.
We have ranked the 26 most successful NBA rookies to win Rookie Of The Year since 1996. We have taken into account individual stats and awards, longevity, career earnings and team success.
* = indicates an active player
26. LaMelo Ball
Jacob Kupferman/AP Images
Draft year: 2020
Years in the NBA: 1*
Career stats: 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 43.6% FG, 35.2% 3FG
Career earnings: $7.8 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Early indications are Ball is a dynamic playmaker and leader on the court, but 51 games is far too little to rank him ahead of All-Stars or even players who lasted decades in the league.
25. Michael Carter-Williams
Eric Gay/AP Images
Draft year: 2013
Years in the NBA: 8*
Career stats: 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 40.2% FG
Career earnings: $19.4 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
One thing to know: A triple-double machine his rookie year, Carter-Williams was traded his second season in the NBA and never regained his rookie-year form.
24. Emeka Okafor
Draft year: 2004
Years in the NBA: 10
Career stats: 12 points, 9.7 rebounds, .8 assists, 1.7 blocks, 51.2% FG
Career earnings: $88.6 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
23. Tyreke Evans
Rich Pedroncelli/AP Images
Draft year: 2009
Years in the NBA: 10
Career stats: 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 44.8% FG
Career earnings: $76.2 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Just one of five players to ever average 20-5-5 as a rookie, Evans is currently banned from the NBA for violating the anti-drug program.
22. Andrew Wiggins
Draft year: 2014
Years in the NBA: 7*
Career stats: 19.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 44.6% FG
Career earnings: $105.6 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
21. Malcolm Brogdon
Draft year: 2016
Years in the NBA: 5*
Career stats: 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 45.3% FG, 38.6% 3FG
Career earnings: $43.2 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
20. Mike Miller
Michael Conroy/AP Images
Draft year: 2000
Years in the NBA: 17
Career stats: 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 45.9% FG, 40.7% 3FG
Career earnings: $98.5 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 1
One thing to know: Once a skilled shooter and playmaker, Miller’s career-defining moment was hitting seven three-pointers off the bench in Game 5 of the 2012 Finals.
19. Steve Francis
Sporting News via Getty Images
Draft year: 1999
Years in the NBA: 9
Career stats: 18.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.5 steals, 42.9% FG, 34.1% 3FG
Career earnings: $103.5 million
All-Stars: 3
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Francis exploded onto the scene with his athleticism and scoring ability, but clashes with coaches, trades, and injuries limited his effectiveness late in his career.
18. Ja Morant
Draft year: 2019
Years in the NBA: 2*
Career stats: 19.1 points, 4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 46.3% FG, 31.7% 3FG
Career earnings: $17.3 million
All-Stars: 0
Championships: 0
17. Brandon Roy
Don Ryan/AP Images
Draft year: 2006
Years in the NBA: 6
Career stats: 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 45.9% FG, 34.8% 3FG
Career earnings: $99.8 million
All-Stars: 3
Championships: 0
One thing to know: How good was Brandon Roy before knee injuries derailed his career at just 26? Kobe Bryant called him one of the most difficult players to guard in the NBA.
16. Elton Brand
Draft year: 1999
Years in the NBA: 17
Career stats: 15.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, 50% FG
Career earnings: $165.9 million
All-Stars: 2
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Brand was a double-double monster early in his career, but his effectiveness was limited after an Achilles injury. He continued to have a productive and successful career.
15. Karl-Anthony Towns
Nick Wass/AP Images
Draft year: 2015
Years in the NBA: 6*
Career stats: 22.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3 assists, 52.7% FG, 39.4% 3FG
Career earnings: $80.7 million
All-Stars: 2
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Towns has been incredibly productive from an individual standpoint, but his next challenge will be carrying a team to the playoffs (and staying healthy).
14. Ben Simmons
Draft year: 2016
Years in the NBA: 5*
Career stats: 14.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 56% FG
Career earnings: $56.6 million
All-Stars: 3
Championships: 0
13. Luka Doncic
Matt Slocum/AP Images
Draft year: 2018
Years in the NBA: 3*
Career stats: 25.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 45.7% FG
Career earnings: $21.8 million
All-Stars: 2
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Doncic is already a game-changing offensive orchestrator and looks poised to take home an MVP (or two or three) in the near future.
12. Derrick Rose
Noah K. Murray/Pool/AP Images
Draft year: 2008
Years in the NBA: 12*
Career stats: 18.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 45.7% FG
Career earnings: $155 million
All-Stars: 3
Championships: 0
One thing to know: When Rose won MVP at just 22 years old, he looked like he would take over the league. He has been able to fill the role of sixth man since his injuries.
11. Amar’e Stoudemire
Draft year: 2002
Years in the NBA: 14
Career stats: 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 53.7% FG
Career earnings: $161.6 million
All-Stars: 6
Championships: 0
10. Vince Carter
Draft year: 1998
Years in the NBA: 22
Career stats: 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists,43.5% FG, 37.1% 3FG
Career earnings: $171.8 million
All-Stars: 8
Championships: 0
9. Blake Griffin
Wilfredo Lee/AP Images
Draft year: 2009
Years in the NBA: 12*
Career stats: 20.9 points, 8.6 points, 4.3 assists, 49.5% FG
Career earnings: $223.3 million
All-Stars: 6
Championships: 0
One thing to know: Griffin evolved over the years, becoming a solid post scorer, passer, and three-point shooter. Although he is no longer an All-Star, his stint in Brooklyn in 2021 showed that he still has a lot of potential.
8. Damian Lillard
Draft year: 2012
Years in the NBA: 9*
Career stats: 24.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 43.9% FG, 37.5% 3FG
Career earnings: $151.8 million
All-Stars: 6
Championships: 0
7. Kyrie Irving
Mary Altaffer/AP Images
Draft year: 2011
Years in the NBA: 10*
Career stats: 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 47% FG, 39.1% 3FG
Career earnings: $158.4 million
All-Stars: 7
Championships: 1
One thing to know: Irving owns one of the most clutch shots in NBA history — a Finals Game 7 dagger — and has become of the most efficient and masterful scorers in the NBA.
6. Pau Gasol
Mark Duncan/AP Images
Draft year: 2001
Years in the NBA: 18
Career stats: 17 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks, 50.7% FG
Career earnings: $220.9 million
All-Stars: 6
Championships: 2
One thing to know: Gasol was one of the most skilled big men in the league and was an integral part of the Lakers 2008 and 2009 championships.
5. Allen Iverson
Draft year: 1996
Years in the NBA: 14
Career stats: 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 42.5% FG
Career earnings: $154.7 million
All-Stars: 11
Championships: 0
4. Chris Paul
Draft year: 2005
Years in the NBA: 16*
Career stats: 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 2.1 steals, 47.2% FG, 37.1% 3FG
Career earnings: $299.9 million
All-Stars: 11
Championships: 0
3. Kevin Durant
Corey Sipkin/AP Images
Draft year: 2008
Years in the NBA: 14*
Career stats: 27 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 49.4% FG, 38.4% 3FG
Career earnings: $264.1 million
All-Stars: 11
Championships: 2
One thing to know: Durant is already perhaps the best scorer the NBA has ever seen and looks poised to dominate over the back-half of his prime for a Nets team that looks like title favorites.
2. Tim Duncan
Brett Davis/AP Images
Draft year: 1997
Years in the NBA: 19
Career stats: 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.2 blocks, 50.6% FG
Career earnings: $242 million
All-Stars: 15
Championships: 5
One thing to know: The model for a franchise centerpiece, Duncan’s game may not have been flashy, but few players at their peak have ever been more effective: 13 straight All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selections, with two MVPs, from 1997-2010.
1. LeBron James
Ross D. Franklin/AP Images
Draft year: 2003
Years in the NBA: 18*
Career stats: 27 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 50.4% FG
Career earnings: $346.2 million
All-Stars: 17
Championships: 4
One thing to know: Comfortably a top-five player of all-time — and the greatest, to some — James’ name is all over the record books and at 36, he is still near the top of his game, contending for a fifth championship.