All NBA Rookie Of The Year Award Winners, Ranked
Of all the NBA Rookie of the Year winners, there has to be a single best. Sure, each and every winner of the sought-after award can be considered the best in their own right, even if it's just for their rookie season, but how do they all stand up against each other? Year after year, we see the top rookies fight for the title, whether that's by being a leading point scorer or a powerhouse on defense (or both). But do they get better each year? Does the ROTY from 50 years ago compare to any of the top current NBA players? That's up to you fans to decide.
From first winner Don Meineke in 1953 to 2017 ROTY Malcolm Brogdon, who are the best NBA Rookie of the Year winners? While Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have proved themselves far past rookies, you still have to consider other all-time NBA greats who won the award, such as Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain—lest we forget the GOAT Michael Jordan. Clearly, determining the best ROTY of all time is certainly no easy decision.
Nevertheless, here's a list of NBA Rookie of the Year award winners, ready to be ranked by you. Vote up the best players and keep in mind, someone is going to take the last spot as the worst ROTY, so vote accordingly.
- Shooting guard
- Teams: Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
1984–85
- Center
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Warriors, San Francisco Warriors
1959–60
- Small forward
- Teams: Boston Celtics
1979–80
- Center
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics
1992–93
- Power forward
- Teams: San Antonio Spurs
1997–98
- Small Forward
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
2003–04
- Point guard
- Teams: Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
1960–61
- Point guard
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons
1996–97
- Center
- Teams: San Antonio Spurs
1989–90
- Small forward
- Teams: Brooklyn Nets
2007–08
- Small forward
- Teams: Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks
1998–99
- Center
- Teams: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Seattle Supersonics
1985–86
- Point guard
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers
2012–13
- Center
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks
1969–70
- Point guard
- Teams: New York Knicks
2008–09
- Small forward
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
1958–59
- Point guard
- Teams: Phoenix Suns
2005–06
- Power forward, Center
- Teams: Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons
1993–94
- Center
- Teams: Washington Wizards, Baltimore Bullets
1968–69
- Point guard
- Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets
1994–95
- Power forward, Center
- Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers
1972–73
- Small forward
- Teams: Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons
1994–95
- Power forward
- Teams: Milwaukee Hawks, St. Louis Hawks
1954–55
- Power forward, Center
- Teams: New York Knicks
1964–65
- Point guard
- Teams: Brooklyn Nets
2011–12