The NBA Rookie of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in basketball. It is given annually by the NBA to the most outstanding rookie player from the regular season.
History of the Award
The Rookie of the Year award was first introduced after the 1952-53 NBA season.
It was named after long-time owner, coach, and basketball pioneer Eddie Gottlieb.
Originally called the “Eddie Gottlieb Trophy“, it was later renamed to the plain Rookie of the Year Award.
In the 2023-24 season, the award was renamed to the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, in honor of the legendary player and 1960 Rookie of the Year winner.
However, it is still commonly referred to as the Rookie of the Year award.
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Voting and Eligibility
The winner is selected through a voting process by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.
The voters cast first, second, and third-place votes.
First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes are worth three points, and third-place votes are worth one point.
The player with the highest point total wins the award, regardless of the number of first-place votes received.
The voting has resulted in ties for the award on three occasions when two players shared the highest point totals.
To be eligible for the award, rookies must play in at least 65 regular season games.
However, this criterion has only taken effect from the 2023-24 season onwards based on the latest collective bargaining agreement.
Notable Milestones
Over the 70+ year history of the award, there have been several notable milestones and achievements:
- 22 winners were first-overall draft picks in the year they won the award
- 16 winners have also won the league MVP award in their careers
- 5 players have won the award unanimously after sweeping all first-place votes
- The award has been won by players born outside the US, including Jamaica, Spain, Australia, Canada and Slovenia
All-Time Award Leaders
The Golden State Warriors (formerly Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors) have had six different players win the Rookie of the Year award, the most among all NBA franchises.
The Los Angeles Clippers (formerly Buffalo Braves and San Diego Clippers) and Sacramento Kings (formerly Rochester, Kansas City, and Cincinnati Royals) each have had five winners.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards (formerly Chicago Packers, Zephyrs, and Baltimore Bullets) have each boasted four winners.
Notable Rookie Seasons
Some of the greatest and most iconic players in NBA history have won the Rookie of the Year award by turning in unforgettable first seasons, including:
- Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60) – Averaged record 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-70) – Averaged 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game
- Larry Bird (1979-80) – Averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game
- Michael Jordan (1984-85) – Averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game
- Shaquille O’Neal (1992-93) – Averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game
Recent Award Winners (2010s)
As the game continues to evolve with younger players making earlier impacts, some of the NBA’s newest superstars have taken home Rookie of the Year honors:
- Blake Griffin (2010-11) – 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game
- Damian Lillard (2012-13) – 19.0 points, 6.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds per game
- Karl-Anthony Towns (2015-16) – 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 assists per game
- Luka Doncic (2018-19) – 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6 assists per game
Three Most Recent Winners
The three most recent Rookie of the Year award winners are:
- Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic (2022-23) – 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game
- Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors (2021-22) – 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game
- LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets (2020-21) – 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists per game
- Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (2019-20) – 17.8 points, 7.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds per game
Key Takeaways
- Prestigious annual award given to the top rookie in the regular season
- Introduced in the 1952-53 season, renamed after Wilt Chamberlain in 2023-24
- Voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada
- The Golden State Warriors franchise has won the most (six players honored)
- Recent winners include Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, and Luka Doncic
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award
www.nbahistoria.pl/roty/
