NBA's Rookie of the Year winners: A list of the best ever basketball players who have won the award

NBA's Rookie of the Year winners: A list of the best ever basketball players who have won the award

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM

In any given NBA season, various awards such as the Most Valuable Player and NBA Championship are often paid attention to most. However, one of the most important, yet somewhat unheralded accolades is the Rookie of the Year, which is often given to the best performer among those in their first season in the league.

A list of NBA rookie of the year award winners and nominees
Portrait of the Rookie of the Year trophy shot on 20 March 1998. Photo: Steven Freeman
Source: Getty Images

Some legendary gurus like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Shaquille O'Neal have won the award in the past. However, though, some names such as Emeka Okafor, Derrick Coleman, and Mike Miller have not explored their careers at peak.

A list of NBA Rookie of the Year award winners and nominees

The National Basketball Association is packed with legendary players, day in, and day out. In fact, most of the most famous and talented athletes as of 2023 sure are from the league. According to various online sources, SportsBrief has done an in-depth analysis and compiled a list of the past NBA Rookie of the Year winners to date.

10. Malcolm Brogdon - 2017

NBA rookie of the year winners
Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on 14 January 2023 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: Kent Smith
Source: Getty Images

Ever heard of players who just came out of nowhere and outshone the existing ones. This was somewhat Malcolm Brogdon's case. Although he was a late choice in the draft, going in the second round with the 36th overall pick, he still managed to win the award in 2017.

Full name

Malcolm Moses Adams Brogdon

Date of birth

11 December 1992

Place of birth

Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America

Age

30 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

American

Current team(s)

Boston Celtics

Year of award

2017 with the Milwaukee Bucks

9. Andrew Wiggins - 2015

NBA rookie of the year since 2000
Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors arrives ahead of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on 18 December 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Cole Burston
Source: Getty Images

At the ninth position, sits Andrew Wiggins, who had immense influence in the league as soon as he got signed. The signing came out as a surprise to many, as the Cleveland Cavaliers had dealt him for Kevin Love soon after LeBron James had returned.

Bargain or no bargain, Andrew Wiggins still managed to prove his worth and won a solid rookie campaign in 2015.

Full name

Andrew Christian Wiggins

Date of birth

23 February 1995

Place of birth

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Age

28 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Canadian

Current team(s)

Golden State Warriors

Year of award

2015 with Minnesota Timberwolves

8. Michael Carter-Williams - 2014

NBA rookie of the year awards
Michael Carter-Williams of the Orlando Magic dribbles during the game against the Washington Wizards on 7 April 2021 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Photo: Fernando Medina
Source: Getty Images

If you are ever asked about the NBA players who peaked in the rookie season, you would not miss out on names like Michael Carter-Williams. Being the 11th overall pick during the 2013 NBA Draft, Michael Carter did not quite make it to the top choice to burst out with a strong rookie season.

But even though his next season was one with several injuries, he still managed to outdo the other players who had been drafted and won the award in 2014.

Full name

Michael Carter-Williams

Date of birth

10 October 1991

Place of birth

Hamilton, Massachusetts, the United States of America

Age

31 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Canadian

Current team(s)

A free agent

Year of award

2014 with Philadelphia 76ers

7. Kyrie Irving - 2012

A list of NBA rookie of the year award winners and nominees
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center on 30 January 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Sarah Stier
Source: Getty Images

If this was a listicle of some of the best basketball players of all time, Kyrie Irving would definitely rank higher. Besides, he has gone far in his career to become a multiple-time All-Star and even won an NBA Championship in 2016.

However, his 2011/2012 season was not one of his luckiest seasons as he suffered multiple injuries, sending him to hospital beds the better part of the season. Fortunately, during the 2012 NBA Draft, he won the rookie award.

Full name

Kyrie Andrew Irving

Date of birth

23 March 1992

Place of birth

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Age

30 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Australian

Current team(s)

Brooklyn Nets

Year of award

2012 with the Cleveland Cavaliers

6. Karl-Anthony Towns - 2016

NBA rookie of the year awards
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 14 January 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: David Sherman
Source: Getty Images

Another yet legend who has not actually been done enough justice in terms of ranking is the Dominican American-based guru, Karl-Anthony Towns. Not only did he win the coveted award in 2016, but also got selected in the 2015 overall selection.

Since winning the coveted award in 2016, he has done nothing but being committed and consistent in ensuring that his influence in the league is felt to the core.

Full name

Karl-Anthony Towns Jr

Date of birth

15 November 1995

Place of birth

Edison, New Jersey, the United States of America

Age

30 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Dominican-American

Current team(s)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Year of award

2016 with the Minnesota Timberwolves

5. Damian Lillard - 2013

A list of NBA rookie of the year award winners and nominees
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on 6 January 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Ron Hoskins
Source: Getty Images

Just as some could term it as an instant connection with Damian Lillard, it was somewhat the case with him, Portland fans discovered his standards even before dribbling in his first match. It was only a matter of time before he stole the coveted award from one decorated basketball player, Anthony Davis.

Full name

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr

Date of birth

15 July 1990

Place of birth

Oakland, California, the United States of America

Age

32 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

American

Current team(s)

Portland Trail Blazers

Year of award

2013 with the Portland Trail Blazers

4. Ben Simmons - 2018

NBA rookie of the year awards
Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on 19 January 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Chris Coduto
Source: Getty Images

Ben Simmons' Rookie of the Year award did not actually come as a surprise, considering he had a highly decorated career in the league. Even though most of the fans by then believed that Donovan Mitchel of Utah should have taken it, Ben still managed to prove his worth and won the coveted award.

However, after his splendid career, he was later faced with severe injuries which sent him on and off the pitch.

Full name

Benjamin David Simmons

Date of birth

20 July 1996

Place of birth

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Age

26 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Australian

Current team(s)

Brooklyn Nets

Year of award

2018 with Philadelphia 76ers

3. Tyreke Evans - 2010

NBA rookie of the year award winners
Tyreke Evans of the Indiana Pacers brings the ball up court during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on 24 March 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Michael Hickey
Source: Getty Images

On the third position, sits Tyreke Evans, who surprisingly managed to make it at the top three of the list. Like Carter-Williams, Tyreke's fame was one that skyrocketed as soon as he won the coveted award in 2010.

Moreover, he became the fourth player after Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game.

Full name

Tyreke Jamir Evans

Date of birth

19 September 1989

Place of birth

Chester, Pennsylvania, the United States of America

Age

33 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

American

Current team(s)

Indios de Mayaguez

Year of award

2010 with Sacramento Kings

2. Blake Griffin - 2011

NBA rookie of the year awards
Blake Griffin of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on 28 November 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Brian Babineau
Source: Getty Images

Among some of the past NBA Rookie of the Year winners is Blake Griffin. He is one sought-after personality in the basketball league and most especially in his current team, Boston Celtics. He has played for other renowned teams such as Los Angeles Clippers, where he won the coveted award, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and currently the Boston Celtics.

Full name

Blake Austin Griffin

Date of birth

16 March 1989

Place of birth

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the United States of America

Age

33 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

American

Current team(s)

Boston Celtics

Year of award

2011 with the Los Angeles Clippers

1. Luka Doncic - 2019

NBA rookie of the year since 2000
Luka Doncic reacts after the Mavericks scored against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half at American Airlines Center on 2 February 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Ron Jenkins
Source: Getty Images

Luka Doncic is the most recent nominee and winner of the coveted Rookie of the Year award. Often dubbed Cool Hand Luke, he shook the entire league when he claimed the award, superseding all the player who had eyed it.

The Dallas Mavericks star took the league by storm and became the rarest player to ever come from overseas at a young age and dominate such a league. To date, he is still the talk of the league.

Full name

Luka Doncic

Date of birth

28 February 1999

Place of birth

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Age

24 years of age as of February 2023

Nationality

Slovenian

Current team(s)

Dallas Mavericks

Year of award

2019 with the Dallas Mavericks

The beauty about any given game is winning the coveted award at the end of it. The National Basketball Association has seen some of the best players win awards such as the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and various championships throughout the league.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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