The Top Ten Highest Scoring Averages by NBA Rookies

December 17, 2023

Eleazer Gonzales presents the top-10 scoring averages by rookie NBA players. Some of the names will be who you were expecting and some might surprise you!

This year's top pick in the NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, is averaging 19 points on top of 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game in his first 23 NBA games so far.

As impressive as Wemby has been with the Spurs, his scoring average is far from some of the rookies who scored on a high note in their first run as a professional.

Now without further ado, here are the top ten highest-scoring season averages among NBA rookies of all time.

1. Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1960)

Before scoring 100 points in a game on March 2, 1962, the late Wilt Chamberlain started his career with the Philadelphia Warriors. 

Not only did Chamberlain win the MVP award, the Rookie of the Year award, and the All-Star Game MVP award but he also set the bar high for rookies by averaging 37.6 points per game in 46.4 minutes.

Chamberlain also grabbed 27 rebounds per game - as a rookie. The rest is history.

Wilt Chamberlain shooting over Walt Bellamy pic.twitter.com/CJ8hwzXC2Q

— Paul Knepper (@paulieknep) December 12, 2023

2. Walt Bellamy (1961-1962)

In his 14-year NBA career, Walt Bellamy was a four-time NBA All-Star and won the 1962 Rookie of the Year award as a player of the Chicago Packers. Some analysts even call Bellamy's rookie season one of the greatest rookie seasons besides that of Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson. 

In 79 games, Bellamy put up 31.6 points, while averaging 19 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 42.4 minutes.

3. Oscar Robertson (1960-1961)

Before Russell Westbrook broke the record for most triple-doubles in a season, Oscar Robertson was the king of triple-doubles.

A one-time NBA champion and a 12-time NBA All-Star, Roberston was a territorial draft by the Cincinnati Royals in 1960. He then averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists in his first season- en route to winning the 1961 Rookie of the Year plum.

Oscar Robertson pic.twitter.com/kSQM30Wjje

— Paul Knepper (@paulieknep) December 15, 2023

Robertson, along with Chamberlain and Bellamy, remained the only rookie to ever average 30+ points in his rookie campaign.

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969-1970)

There is one reason why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's name ranks high among the NBA's greatest players: he had a great rookie season too.

Abdul-Jabbar started his illustrated career with the Milwaukee Bucks- averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds in his rookie season where he won the top rookie award.

His resume also included six NBA championships, six MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards, and two more NBA championships as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. More importantly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the second-all-time leading scorer. 

5. Elvin Hayes (1968-1969)

Most NBA fans today won't remember the fact that the Houston Rockets used to be called the San Diego Rockets. 

Picked by the Rockets as the top overall pick in the 1968 draft, Hayes won the scoring title as a rookie by averaging 28.4 points on 51.5% field goal shooting. 

In his 16-year career that saw him only miss nine games, Hayes won an NBA championship and two rebounding titles. He was also a 12-time NBA All-Star. 

6. Michael Jordan (1984-1985)

We can't have this list and not include who, to most people, is the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan.

Jordan was picked third overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 draft and took the Bulls back on the world map. In his first hurrah as a Bull, His Airness averaged 28.2 points in 82 games. 

There will NEVER be another Michael Jordan! pic.twitter.com/SGDTB5O6W8

— Texas (@MustangMan_TX) December 12, 2023

MJ went on to become a ten-time scoring champion on top of being a five-time MVP and, of course, an unbeaten 6-0 record in the NBA Finals.

 7. Rick Barry (1965-1966)

The San Francisco Warriors drafted Rick Barry as the second overall pick in 1965. Barry won the Rookie of the Year in 1966 and was also included in the NBA All-Rookie First Team by averaging 25.7 points in 37.4 minutes.

From there on, Barry became one of the most prolific scorers in the game. At one point, he stood alone as the only player to ever score 50 points in a Game Seven. 

8. Terry Dischinger (1962-1963)

A three-time NBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist, Terry Dischinger is among the rookies with the highest scoring average. 

Drafted in 1962 as the eighth pick in the second round by the Chicago Zephyrs, Dischinger averaged 25.5 points, eight rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

These numbers earned him the Rookie of the Year plum in 1963 and a spot in the NBA All-Rookie First Team. 

9. Elgin Baylor (1958-1959)

Elgin Baylor spent his entire NBA career with one franchise: the Minneapolis Lakers, which later became the Los Angeles Lakers.

Baylor came into the league as the top pick in the 1958 draft proceedings. He then averaged 24.9 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists per game.

1962: Elgin Baylor scored 50 points on 20 of 29 shooting in a Lakers win over the Syracuse Nationals pic.twitter.com/cgpjFmowti

— hoopsjunky (@hoopsjunky54491) December 12, 2023

He took home the top rookie honors en route to having an illustrated career that saw him an NBA championship in 1972.   

10. Geoff Petrie (1970-1971)

Geoff Petrie played for the Portland Trail Blazers during his NBA career and saw his jersey number 45 retired by the franchise.

He averaged 24.8 points per game in his rookie season and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1971. 

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