5 NBA players with the highest points per game (PPG) in their rookie season since 2000
It is always interesting to see NBA rookies develop as players. Last season, the rookie class was led by two exciting young players, LaMelo Ball (Rookie of the Year) and Anthony Edwards, the first pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.
While Ball is an all-around player on offense and earned the Rookie of the Year award with his electrifying display of passing ability and hustle, Edwards seems to have great potential as an NBA scorer. Edwards led all rookies last year, averaging 19.3 points per game in the 2020-21 season.
It is rare to see rookies putting up lots of points per game, mainly because they do not get those big chances. Some also tend to find themselves on teams that do not achieve much collectively and are naturally under the radar. This in turn means their performances do not create many headlines.
In the 2021 NBA rookie class, Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) and Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) could be the Top 2 rookies to look out for in the upcoming campaign. It will certainly be fun to watch their on-court rivalry develop throughout the upcoming years if both fulfill expectations.
NBA rookies with the highest points per game (PPG) in a single season since 2000
We have seen some impressive rookie campaigns in NBA history, with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld winning the NBA MVP as rookies. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan were also highly impressive in their rookie season.
In this article, we will focus on rookies with high scoring averages. We will give you five rookies with the highest points-per-game average since 2000.
Without further ado, let us start.
#5 Donovan Mitchell | Utah Jazz (2017-18)
Back in the 2017-18 NBA season, Donovan Mitchell had an extraordinary rookie year, leading the Utah Jazz's offense in the regular season and postseason. He had some competition for the Rookie of the Year award, however, with Ben Simmons playing in his first NBA season after missing the entire 2016-17 campaign owing to a foot injury.
Mitchell and Simmons were evenly matched in the rookie fight, but the Australian eventually took Rookie of the Year honors. Still, it was Mitchell who led all rookies in points-per-game average, with 20.5 per game, the fifth-highest by a rookie since 2000.
#4 LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04)
LeBron James is arguably the greatest player in NBA history, and his career has been spectacular from the start. He entered the league with a bang, becoming the first pick of the stacked 2003 NBA Draft straight off high school.
In his rookie campaign, James started one of the most legendary NBA careers with an average of 20.9 points per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the fourth-highest average for a rookie since 2000, but James also showed great all-around ability on offense that has kept him dominant for 18 years.
James did not lead rookies in scoring in his first season, however. Some might even argue that there was another rookie who was more deserving of the NBA Rookie of the Year that campaign.
Who might that be?