NBA Rookie of the Year Award explained

National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year Award (ROY)
Sport:Basketball
League:National Basketball Association
Givenfor:Best first year player in regular season of the National Basketball Association
Mostrecent:Victor Wembanyama
(San Antonio Spurs)

The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award 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.

The winner is selected by a panel of United States and Canadian sportswriters and broadcasters,[1] 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.[2]

The most recent Rookie of the Year winner is Victor Wembanyama 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.[3] Seven players won the award unanimously (by capturing all of the first-place votes)—Lew Alcindor, Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Victor Wembanyama.[4]

Patrick Ewing of Jamaica,[5] 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

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 consideration
§1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[6]
Player
(in bold text)
Denotes unanimous winners
DP #Draft pick number
DYDraft year
TTerritorial pick
Rookie of the Year
SeasonPlayerPositionNationalityTeamSchool/Prior ExperienceDP #DY
Forward/centerFort Wayne PistonsDayton1952
CenterBaltimore BulletsLong Island1953
Forward/centerMilwaukee HawksLSU1954
Forward/centerRochester RoyalsSaint Francis (PA)1955
ForwardBoston CelticsHoly Cross1956
Forward/centerPhiladelphia WarriorsTexas Southern1957
ForwardMinneapolis LakersSeattle1958
CenterPhiladelphia Warriors (2)Kansas, Harlem Globetrotters1959
GuardCincinnati Royals (2)Cincinnati/T1960
CenterChicago Packers (2)Indiana1961
Forward/guardChicago Zephyrs (3)Purdue1962
Forward/centerCincinnati Royals (3)Ohio State1962
Center/forwardNew York KnicksGrambling1964
ForwardSan Francisco Warriors (3)Miami (FL)1965
GuardDetroit Pistons (2)Syracuse1966
GuardBaltimore Bullets (4)Winston-Salem State1967
Center/forwardBaltimore Bullets (5)Louisville1968
CenterMilwaukee BucksUCLA1969
Center/forwardBoston Celtics (2)Florida State1970
GuardPortland Trail BlazersPrinceton1970
Forward/centerPortland Trail Blazers (2)UCLA1971
Center/forwardBuffalo BravesNorth Carolina (Jr.)1972
GuardBuffalo Braves (2)Providence (Sr.)1973
Forward/guardGolden State Warriors (4)UCLA (Sr.)1974
Center/forwardPhoenix SunsOklahoma (Jr.)1975
Forward/guardBuffalo Braves (3)Notre Dame (Jr.)1976
Guard/forwardPhoenix Suns (2)North Carolina (Sr.)1977
GuardKansas City Kings (4)North Carolina (Sr.)1978
ForwardBoston Celtics (3)Indiana State (Jr.)1978
GuardUtah JazzLouisville (Sr.)1980
Forward/centerNew Jersey NetsMaryland (Jr.)1981
ForwardSan Diego Clippers (4)DePaul (Jr.)1982
Center/forwardHouston RocketsVirginia (Sr.)1983
GuardChicago BullsNorth Carolina (Jr.)1984
CenterNew York Knicks (2)Georgetown (Sr.)1985
ForwardIndiana PacersAuburn (Sr.)1986
GuardNew York Knicks (3)St. John's (Sr.)1987
GuardGolden State Warriors (5)Kansas State (Sr.)1988
CenterSan Antonio SpursNavy (Sr.)1987
ForwardNew Jersey Nets (2)Syracuse (Sr.)1990
ForwardCharlotte HornetsUNLV (Sr.)1991
CenterOrlando MagicLSU (Jr.)1992
Forward/centerGolden State Warriors (6)Michigan (So.)1993
Forward/guardDetroit Pistons (3)Duke (Sr.)1994
GuardDallas MavericksCalifornia (So.)1994
GuardToronto RaptorsArizona (Sr.)1995
GuardPhiladelphia 76ersGeorgetown (So.)1996
Forward/centerSan Antonio Spurs (2)Wake Forest (Sr.)1997
Guard/forwardToronto Raptors (2)North Carolina (Jr.)1998
ForwardChicago Bulls (2)Duke (So.)1999
GuardHouston Rockets (2)Maryland (Jr.)1999
Forward/guardOrlando Magic (2)Florida (So.)2000
Forward/centerMemphis GrizzliesFC Barcelona (Spain)2001
Forward/centerPhoenix Suns (3)Cypress Creek HS (Orlando, Florida)2002
^ForwardCleveland CavaliersSt. Vincent–St. Mary HS (Akron, Ohio)2003
Center/forwardCharlotte Bobcats (2)Connecticut (Jr.)2004
^GuardNew Orleans/Oklahoma City HornetsWake Forest (So.)2005
GuardPortland Trail Blazers (3)Washington (Sr.)2006
^ForwardSeattle SuperSonicsTexas (Fr.)2007
^GuardChicago Bulls (3)Memphis (Fr.)2008
Guard/forwardSacramento Kings (5)Memphis (Fr.)2009
ForwardLos Angeles Clippers (5)Oklahoma (So.)2009
^GuardCleveland Cavaliers (2)Duke (Fr.)2011
^GuardPortland Trail Blazers (4)Weber St. (Jr.)2012
GuardPhiladelphia 76ers (2)Syracuse (So.)2013
^Forward/guardMinnesota TimberwolvesKansas (Fr.)2014
^CenterMinnesota Timberwolves (2)Kentucky (Fr.)2015
^GuardMilwaukee Bucks (2)Virginia (Sr.)2016
^Forward/guardPhiladelphia 76ers (3)LSU (Fr.)2016
^Guard/forwardDallas Mavericks (2)Real Madrid (Spain)2018
^GuardMemphis Grizzlies (2)Murray State (So.)2019
^GuardCharlotte Hornets (3)Illawarra Hawks (Australia)2020
^ForwardToronto Raptors (3)Florida State (Fr.)42021
^ForwardOrlando Magic (3)Duke (Fr.)2022
^Center FranceSan Antonio Spurs (3)2023

Unofficial winners

Prior to the season, the Rookie of the Year was selected by newspaper writers;[7] 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.[8] [9]

Pre-1953 NBA Rookies of the Year
SeasonPlayerPositionNationalityTeamDP #DY
Guard/forwardBaltimore Bullets701947
Guard/forwardProvidence Steamrollers1949
CenterIndianapolis Olympians1949
Forward/guardPhiladelphia Warriors1950
GuardIndianapolis Olympians1951
Forward/centerMilwaukee Hawks1951

Teams

Awards Teams PlayersYears
6Golden State Warriors / San Francisco Warriors / Philadelphia WarriorsWoody Sauldsberry, Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, (as Philadelphia)
(as San Francisco)
,,
5Los Angeles Clippers / San Diego Clippers / Buffalo BravesBob McAdoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Adrian Dantley, Terry Cummings, Blake Griffin,, (as Buffalo)
(as San Diego)
Sacramento Kings / Kansas City Kings / Cincinnati Royals / Rochester RoyalsMaurice Stokes, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Phil Ford, Tyreke Evans (as Rochester)
, (as Cincinnati)
(as Kansas City)
4Portland Trail BlazersGeoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy, Damian Lillard,,,
Washington Wizards / Baltimore Bullets / Chicago Zephyrs / Chicago PackersWalt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe, Wes Unseld (as Chicago Packers)
(as Chicago Zephyrs)
, (as Baltimore)
3Boston CelticsTom Heinsohn, Dave Cowens, Larry Bird,,
Charlotte Hornets / Charlotte BobcatsLarry Johnson, Emeka Okafor, LaMelo Ball, (as Charlotte Bobcats),
Chicago BullsMichael Jordan, Elton Brand, Derrick Rose,,
Detroit Pistons / Fort Wayne PistonsDon Meineke, Dave Bing, Grant Hill (as Fort Wayne),,
New York KnicksWillis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson,,
Orlando MagicShaquille O'Neal, Mike Miller, Paolo Banchero,,
Philadelphia 76ersAllen Iverson, Michael Carter-Williams, Ben Simmons,,
Phoenix SunsAlvan Adams, Walter Davis, Amar'e Stoudemire,,
San Antonio SpursDavid Robinson, Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama,,
Toronto RaptorsDamon Stoudamire, Vince Carter, Scottie Barnes,,
2Brooklyn Nets / New Jersey NetsBuck Williams, Derrick Coleman (as New Jersey), (as New Jersey)
Cleveland CavaliersLeBron James, Kyrie Irving,
Dallas MavericksJason Kidd, Luka Dončić,
Houston RocketsRalph Sampson, Steve Francis,
Memphis GrizzliesPau Gasol, Ja Morant,
Milwaukee BucksLew Alcindor, Malcolm Brogdon,
Minnesota TimberwolvesAndrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns,
1Atlanta Hawks / Milwaukee HawksBob Pettit (as Milwaukee)
Baltimore BulletsRay Felix
Indiana PacersChuck Person
Los Angeles Lakers / Minneapolis LakersElgin Baylor (as Minneapolis)
New Orleans Pelicans / Oklahoma City HornetsChris Paul (as New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets)
Oklahoma City Thunder / Seattle SuperSonicsKevin Durant (as Seattle)
Utah JazzDarrell Griffith
0Denver NuggetsNone
Miami Heat

See also

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wolves' Towns named 2015–16 Kia Rookie of the Year . NBA.com . May 16, 2016 . November 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160516152942/http://www.nba.com/2016/news/05/16/karl-anthony-towns-named-kia-rookie-of-the-year-award-winner/index.html. May 16, 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy Named 2006-07 T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year . July 10, 2008 . May 3, 2007 . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . NBA.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120116115620/http://www.nba.com/news/awards2007_rookie.html. January 16, 2012. dead.
  3. Web site: Brand, Francis named NBA co-rookies of the year . July 13, 2008 . November 10, 2000 . CBC Sports. November 4, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104121318/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/05/09/rookie000509.html. live.
  4. Web site: It's unanimous: Karl-Anthony Towns gets every first-place vote for Rookie of the Year . StarTribune.com . Minneapolis Star Tribune . May 16, 2016 . May 16, 2016.
  5. Web site: Bargnani becomes first European top NBA draft pick . June 16, 2008 . People's Daily Online . June 29, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011015037/http://english.people.com.cn/200606/29/eng20060629_278441.html. October 11, 2012. dead.
  6. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . November 8, 2021.
  7. News: Friedman . David . Bill Tosheff: NBA Co-Rookie of the Year and Tireless Advocate for the "Pre-1965ers . 20 Second Timeout . March 2, 2009 . September 1, 2011 . August 17, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110817120002/http://20secondtimeout.blogspot.com/2009/03/bill-tosheff-nba-co-rookie-of-year-and_02.html . live.
  8. News: Goldstein . Allan . NBA forgot it honored Hoffman . October 30, 1994 . The Baltimore Sun . September 1, 2011 . October 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001184428/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-10-30/sports/1994303066_1_hoffman-paul-arizin-alex-groza . live.
  9. Book: Sachare, Alex . The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia . 371 . . New York . 1994 . 978-0-679-43293-7.