1) Magic Johnson, Lakers, 1980

Though he averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, an incredible rookie campaign by any metric, Johnson was overshadowed by his longtime rival Larry Bird earning Rookie of the Year honors and his Lakers teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar winning his sixth league MVP. But the postseason was a different story. Johnson averaged nearly a triple-double across 16 playoff games, and his 3.1 steals per game led the league. His 2.8 total win shares is still the rookie postseason record (breaking his teammate Abdul-Jabbar’s mark from 1970), as were his 151 assists and 49 steals (and, for the record, so were his 65 turnovers). It all culminated in game six of the NBA Finals, when Johnson took over as the starting center for an injured Abdul-Jabbar and absolutely dominated the 76ers with 42 points and 15 rebounds in a 123-107 Lakers win that closed out the series. He became the first, and still only, rookie to earn the Finals MVP award. Possibly even more impressive: There have been only nine triple-doubles from a rookie in NBA history, and five of them came from Johnson (the other four were one each from Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Gola, Jerry Lucas, and Ben Simmons).

2) Manu Ginobili, Spurs, 2003

Nursing an ankle injury and struggling to adjust to the NBA style of play, Ginobili, who was already 25 years old, got off to a slow start with the Spurs in his rookie season. He averaged just 5.9 points per game in his first four months in the league before coming alive down the stretch, earning Rookie of the Month honors in March and getting named 2nd-Team All-Rookie. Coach Gregg Popovich then turned him loose offensively in the playoffs and Ginobili was up to the challenge, most notably in the Conference Finals, where his unique, herky-jerky drives to the basket proved unstoppable against the Mavericks. After winning a championship in his rookie season, Ginobili was feted in his home country, getting Argentina’s Sportsperson of the Year award and meeting the president. His 28 postseason three-point field goals was the rookie record for many years until Tyler Herro broke it in 2020.

3) Alvan Adams, Suns, 1976

There was an interesting phenomenon in the NBA in the ’60s and ’70s where a player would peak statistically as a rookie and it was all downhill from there. Adams was one of the ultimate examples, averaging career highs in scoring (19.0 points per game) and rebounding (9.1 per game) in his rookie campaign with the Suns, ’75-’76. It was also his only All-Star appearance in 13 NBA seasons, his only major individual award (Rookie of the Year) season, and by far his most significant postseason performance. This was especially true in the NBA Finals, where he squared off ably against Celtics superstar Dave Cowens, with 23.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as Phoenix pushed the series to a competitive six games. Though he never reached those heights again, individually or with the team, Adams is still a Suns legend and had his jersey retired by the franchise upon his 1988 retirement. Between Adams and shooting guard Ricky Sobers, this ’75-’76 Suns team is the only in NBA history to reach the Finals with two rookies in the starting lineup.

4) Jayson Tatum, Celtics, 2018

Expectations were high for the ’17-’18 Celtics and it actually had only a little bit to do with Tatum, their third overall pick in the 2017 draft. Already a Conference Finals team in 2017, Boston added Gordon Hayward in free agency and swapped an oft-injured Isaiah Thomas for superstar Kyrie Irving at point guard. But come playoff time, with Hayward and Irving both sidelined by injuries, it was the Tatum show. He kicked things off with a triple-double in his postseason debut, in a first round win over the Bucks, and eventually carried the Celtics to a surprising repeat Conference Finals appearance. Along the way, Tatum became the youngest player to score 20+ points in four consecutive playoff games (breaking Kobe Bryant’s record), the first Celtics rookie to score 20+ in five straight playoff games (breaking Larry Bird’s record) and tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for 20+ point playoff games for a rookie, with 10 total.

5) Tom Meschery, Warriors, 1962

Drafted seventh overall out of St. Mary’s by the Warriors in 1961, Meschery slotted in immediately as the starting power forward, playing alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Arizin in the front court and making an immediate impact. Meschery had a solid rookie season, averaging 12.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, and that carried over into the playoffs. He was third in scoring and second in rebounding in their Conference Semifinals victory over the Nationals, avenging an upset loss from a year prior. In a tense Conference Finals series against the Celtics, Meschery came up even bigger, dropping 27 points and 19 rebounds in a game six win, then a team high 32 points in a tough game seven loss. Hard nosed and aggressive on the floor, Meschery also notably led the NBA in personal fouls in his rookie year.

6) Bill Russell, Celtics, 1957
7) Tom Heinsohn, Celtics, 1957

Thanks to some routinely shrewd maneuvering from Red Auerbach, the Celtics came away with by far the two best players in the 1956 draft class (in fact, they arguably wound up with the third best as well in K.C. Jones, who joined the roster two years later after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army). Heinsohn, a combo forward out of Holy Cross whom the Celtics selected with their territorial pick, had the bigger regular season impact, averaging 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and earning Rookie of the Year honors. Meanwhile, Russell missed the first third of the season due to a commitment to the U.S. national team (he dominated the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne) but transformed not just the Celtics but the NBA as a whole as soon as he joined the roster. While Heinsohn was Boston’s leading scorer in the 1957 postseason that ended with the franchise’s first championship, Russell was the real difference maker. I mean, there’s a reason the Finals MVP trophy is named after the guy. He averaged a mind boggling 19.6 rebounds per game and set the pace repeatedly with his commanding defensive presence. When the veteran back court duo Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman struggled in game seven of the 1957 Finals against the Hawks (shooting a combined 5-of-40 from the field), Russell and Heinsohn combined for 56 points and 55 rebounds to lead Boston to victory.

8) Kawhi Leonard, Spurs, 2012

Though their core trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker was still intact, the Spurs dynasty looked effectively finished in 2011. The four championship banners hanging from the rafters of the AT&T Center seemed like a distant memory already when San Antonio was swept out of the Conference Semifinals by the Suns in 2010 and then stunned as a #1 seed in the Conference Quarterfinals by the Grizzlies in 2011. General manager R.C. Buford took a calculated risk on draft day in 2011, trading promising young guard George Hill for the rights to mysterious prospect Leonard. A physical marvel with undeniable defensive potential, Leonard still worried NBA front offices due to his perceived lack of offensive skill. His rookie season started slow but he thrived down the stretch after getting inserted into the starting lineup replacing the traded Richard Jefferson. Turns out, having a demonic defensive presence at the wing, like a supercharged version of franchise legend Bruce Bowen, was exactly the jolt of electricity the Spurs needed. Leonard averaged just 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in the 2012 postseason but his shutdown defense proved vital as the Spurs returned to the Conference Finals for the first time in four years. One year later, he was a key presence on a Finals team and in his third season, Leonard was Finals MVP as the Spurs dynasty added a fifth title trophy.

9) Marques Johnson, Bucks, 1978

Joining a Bucks team still reeling from the trade of his fellow UCLA alumnus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar two years prior, Johnson had an undeniable impact in his rookie season. Milwaukee improved from 30 wins in ’76-’77 to 48 in ’77-’78 and returned to the playoffs for the first time since their 1974 NBA Finals loss. Johnson’s arrival perfectly coincided with that of head coach Don Nelson, who molded the 6’7″ big man into a revolutionary, offense-running “point forward.” He led the Bucks in scoring and rebounding as a rookie in the 1978 playoffs as they swept the Suns in the first round then almost upset the Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals. His best performance came in game six against Denver, a must win with the Nuggets ahead 3-2 in the series. Johnson finished with a near triple-double, with 17 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists, and four blocks in a blowout Bucks win. He would eventually lead the Bucks to Conference Finals appearances in 1983 and 1984 before a neck injury derailed his career soon after. To this day, he stands as the only post-merger rookie to score 30+ points in three or more playoff games.

10) Antonio Davis, Pacers, 1994

Drafted by the Pacers in the second round in 1990, Davis spent three years playing professionally in Europe before reaching the NBA in ’93-’94. Already 25 years old before the season started, he was an especially savvy rookie and contributed immediately. Coming off the bench at power forward and center and providing consistent defense, rebounding, and post scoring, Davis was arguably the difference maker for an Indiana team that had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for four consecutive years prior. With Davis averaging 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in the postseason, the Pacers made their first Conference Finals appearance in franchise history, where they lost a tough seven-game series against the Knicks. This kicked off a stretch of four such appearances in a six year stretch and Davis was present for all of them, though he left as a free agent in 1999 and missed the 2000 NBA Finals trip.

11) Jamaal Wilkes, Warriors, 1975

While Rick Barry’s incredible, do-it-all performance was certainly the main catalyst for the Warriors winning the NBA championship in ’74-’75 after missing the playoffs entirely in ’73-’74, an overlooked factor is Wilkes. A versatile star at UCLA, with a jump shot so consistent that legendary announcer Chick Hearn would later nickname it a “20-foot lay-up,” Wilkes came to Golden State with the 11th pick in the 1974 NBA Draft (note: he went by his original first name, Keith, in his rookie season, converting to Islam in the summer of 1975 and changing his name to Jamaal Abdul-Lateef but continuing to his the Wilkes surname in his professional capacity). He earned Rookie of the Year honors then stepped it up even more in the postseason, finishing second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding, despite coming off the bench. Though he didn’t contribute much offensively in the NBA Finals sweep of the Bullets, Wilkes was huge defensively, especially against Washington’s star scorer, Elvin Hayes. Getting overshadowed by star teammates in the postseason would become a bit of a career motif for Wilkes, who was also incredible in the 1980 and 1982 Lakers title runs (and arguably deserved Finals MVP in the latter) but his performances were eclipsed by Magic Johnson.

12) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks, 1970

Few players have hit the NBA as ready to dominate as Abdul-Jabbar in ’69-’70. He started his career with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a Bucks win over the Pistons, setting the tone for a season in which he not only easily earned Rookie of the Year but also finished third in MVP voting and was named 2nd-Team All-NBA. It was just the second season in Milwaukee’s franchise history and they improved from 27-55 in their inaugural season to 56-26 in ’69-’70 and secured the #2 seed in the East. Abdul-Jabbar was essentially unstoppable in a Conference Semifinals win over the 76ers, especially in the clinching game five when he finished with 46 points and 25 rebounds (matching Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies to ever top 40+ points and 20+ rebounds in a playoff game). Though the Bucks were overmatched in the Conference Finals against the Knicks and lost in five games, Abdul-Jabbar arguably outplayed reigning league MVP Willis Reed. Despite appearing in just 10 games, Abdul-Jabbar set the still standing rookie record for total postseason points, with 352 (second on the list is Jayson Tatum, who compiled his total over 19 games).

“To this day, [Red] Kerr is the one and only rookie to be the starting center on a championship team.”

13) Elgin Baylor, Lakers, 1959

For the first time in franchise history, the Lakers missed the playoffs in 1958, finishing with a 19-53 record as George Mikan proved disastrous as head coach. Replacing Mikan with his predecessor, John Kundla, helped matters in ’58-’59 but the real turnaround boost was drafting Baylor with the first overall pick. Exceedingly athletic and able to play above the rim in an unprecedented manner, he was an offensive revelation, one that opposing defenses couldn’t even hope to contain. Not only was Baylor Rookie of the Year, he was 1st-Team All-NBA and finished third in MVP voting after averaging 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. He then carried an otherwise pedestrian Lakers team to a stunning Western Conference Finals upset over the Hawks, averaging 28.3 points per game, then was equally incredible in an NBA Finals sweep at the hands of the Celtics. It portended Baylor’s career in two ways, both his unbelievable scoring prowess and his unfortunate predeliction for Finals losses. 

14) Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors, 1960

One of just two players in NBA history to earn MVP in his rookie season, Chamberlain carried that dominance over to the playoffs in 1960. His 33.2 postseason points per game is the second highest mark in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his 25.8 rebounds per game is the all-time record. Joining a Philadelphia Warriors team that had missed the postseason entirely a year prior, Chamberlain closed out their first round series win over the Syracuse Nationals with a 53-point, 22-rebound performance in the clinching game three. He then arguably held his own in the Conference Finals against Boston’s Bill Russell. Chamberlain averaged 30.5 points and 27.5 rebounds per game against one of the greatest defensive centers in history but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors lost the series in six games.

15) Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers, 2007

An afterthought in the 2006 NBA Draft coming out of Texas, Gibson fell to the Cavaliers in the second round and barely played early in his rookie season. But his solid three-point shooting combined with the lack of scoring depth in the Cavs’ back court eventually opened up opportunities for Gibson, especially in the postseason, when he became a surprising factor in the Conference Finals upset over the Pistons. With basically every Cavs player besides LeBron James struggling to score, Gibson played major minutes off the bench in a game three victory that turned the tide of the series. He was Cleveland’s second leading scorer in a game four win, with 21 points, added 11 points in game five, and then led all scorers with 31 points in the clinching game six, shooting 5-of-5 from three-point range. This momentum carried over somewhat into the NBA Finals, where he averaged 10.8 points per game but struggled some from the field as the Cavs were swept by the Spurs. Though he played six more seasons in the NBA, all with Cleveland, that rookie postseason would prove to the peak of Gibson’s career, as he struggled with near constant injuries and ineffectiveness, especially after James’ departure for Miami.

16) Alonzo Mourning, Hornets, 1993

One of the most underrated rookie seasons in NBA history came from Mourning, who was overshadowed by his fellow 1992 draftee Shaquille O’Neal. Mourning averaged 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game in ’92-’93, set the Hornets franchise record for total blocks just 49 games into his career, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind O’Neal. But while Shaq had to watch the postseason on television, as his Magic just missed out on the #8 seed, Mourning further secured his legend, leading the Hornets in scoring and rebounding in a first round series upset over the Celtics. It culminated in the clinching game four with Mourning hitting the game winning shot with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. While Charlotte was ousted in the Conference Semifinals by the Knicks, Mourning was spectacular in that series as well, going toe-to-toe with veteran Patrick Ewing and again leading his team in points and rebounds.

17) Red Kerr, Nationals, 1955

To this day, Kerr is the one and only rookie to be the starting center on a championship team. He came to the NBA with some extensive postseason experience already, having led Illinois to a surprise Final Four appearance in 1953 before getting drafted sixth overall by the Nationals. Slotting in immediately as the starting center, he allowed Nats superstar Dolph Schayes to shift over to his more natural power forward position. The front court duo carried Syracuse in the postseason, as the team’s two leading scorers and rebounders. Kerr had a game high 27 points in his playoff debut, in a Conference Finals game one win over the Celtics, and a double-double, along with five assists, in game seven of the NBA Finals victory over the Pistons. Though that would constitute the only title (or Finals appearance) of Kerr’s career as a player (for 13 years) or as a coach (for four years), he was part of numerous legendary postseason moments with the Bulls as their television color commentator during Michael Jordan’s career.

18) Dwyane Wade, Heat, 2004

Though LeBron James was the obvious biggest talent (and won Rookie of the Year) and Carmelo Anthony seemingly the most likely to contribute right away, it was Wade who was first amongst the 2003 NBA Draft class to make a postseason impact. His regular season performance was pretty incredible already, averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game as the Heat improved by 17 wins and returned to the playoffs after a two-year absence. He was similarly solid in a first round series win over the Hornets, most notably with a buzzer beater in game one, but really broke up in spurring a near upset over the Pacers in the Conference Semifinals. Wade led Miami in scoring (21.0 points per game) and assists (5.7 per game) in the series, despite often being shadowed by shutdown defender Metta World Peace. The Heat managed to stretch the series to six games before succumbing to the much more talented Indiana squad. That summer, they traded for Shaquille O’Neal, setting up Wade for even more impressive playoff performances over the next two years, culminating in a championship and Finals MVP trophy in 2006. 

19) Maurice Cheeks, 76ers, 1979

Point guard was a weak spot for the title contending Sixers teams of the late ’70s until they landed on an unlikely solution in Cheeks. Drafted late in the second round out of West Texas A&M (a Division II school), he was far from a guarantee to make the roster let alone thrive on it. But coach Billy Cunningham was quickly won over by Cheeks’ defense, play making, and uncommon maturity for his age, and inserted him into the starting lineup on day one. While he didn’t have a huge impact statistically during the regular season, Cheeks stepped up big time in the Conference Semifinals match-up with the Spurs. He was the team’s second leading scorer in the series behind Julius Erving, with 20.6 points per game, plus the assists lead with 7.6 per game. Game four was a true shining moment for the rookie point guard, who finished with 33 points, nine assists, and six steals. Unfortunately, the 76ers lost that game and the series in seven but it was a true preview of things to come, as Cheeks remained the starting point guard for a decade, including the ’82-’83 championship season.

20) David Robinson, Spurs, 1990

Due to his U.S. Naval service, Robinson didn’t reach the NBA until age 24, two full years after the Spurs drafted him with the first overall pick. He was worth the wait and then some, putting together arguably the best post-merger rookie season in NBA history. Robinson earned Rookie of the Year honors for averaging 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game, plus an All-Star appearance, and spots on the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. After three straight seasons losing 50+ games, San Antonio had an immediate, record breaking turnaround in ’89-’90, finishing with the #2 seed in the West with a 56-26 record. In a first round series sweep of the Nuggets, Robinson dominated the veteran center Blair Rasmussen, averaging 27.7 points and 13.7 rebounds over three games. He was similarly spectacular in the Conference Semifinals against the Trail Blazers but the Spurs were ultimately defeated in seven games.

21) Jack Sikma, SuperSonics, 1978

Following a legendary career at Division II Illinois Wesleyan, Sikma was an eighth overall pick of the Sonics, joining a roster full of fellow young, unheralded players. Drafted to replace the recently traded Tom Burleson as starting center, Sikma in fact filled in immediately, starting all 82 regular season games and 22 playoff contests in ’77-’78. With his patented “Sikma Move” fadeaway short jumper, he was part of a balanced Sonics offensive attack, with six players averaging double-digit scoring in the postseason. His playoff introduction was a trial by fire, going toe-to-toe with the Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the first round but Sikma held his own as Seattle advanced. Facing off against another veteran legend in the NBA Finals in Washington’s Wes Unseld, Sikma had an inconsistent but ultimately impressive series, most notably in game seven, when he dropped 21 points and 11 rebounds in a close SuperSonics loss. That performance makes him one of just three rookies, along with Magic Johnson and Richard Dumas, with a post-merger double-double in a Finals game.

22) Tom Gola, Warriors, 1956

When Gola helped lead the Warriors to the NBA championship as a rookie in ’55-’56, it was just a continuation of his winning ways at every level. He had previously carried his Philadelphia high school team to the state title in 1951, then La Salle to the NIT championship in 1952 and the NCAA title in 1954. It’s no wonder the (then Philadelphia) Warriors were keen to grab him with their territorial draft pick in 1955. Slotting seamlessly into the lineup at shooting guard, his ball handling skills were a key component on a team headlined by spot-up scoring specialist Paul Arizin and paint bruiser Neil Johnston. Gola was also a terrific rebounder for his size, finishing second on the Warriors in the category and averaging a double-double for the playoffs. There were some lulls for him during the playoffs but he exploded in Philadelphia’s final three games, averaging 17.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists as the Warriors finished off the Pistons in the NBA Finals. Gola likely expected his winning ways to just continue indefinitely but he would never return to the NBA Finals in his 11-year NBA career, let alone earn another championship.

23) Tyler Herro, Heat, 2020

All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were the main catalysts for the Heat’s surprising run to the 2020 NBA Finals but credit is also largely due to the man appropriately named Herro. Though he was a lottery pick in 2019 out of Kentucky, Herro spent almost the entirety of the pre-bubble ’19-’20 season coming off the bench behind a fellow rookie, the undrafted Kendrick Nunn. But when Nunn was struggling in The Bubble, due in part to complications from having contracted COVID-19, Herro stepped in and stepped up. He initially remained on the bench behind Goran Dragic but made the most of his increased playing time, especially in the Conference Finals against Boston. Herro averaged 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in that series. He had a near triple-double in Miami’s game one win, then dropped a career high 37 in their game four victory. This marked him as the third youngest player to score 30+ points in a playoff game and was just the start of his superlatives in the 2020 postseason. He eventually became the youngest player to start an NBA Finals game (breaking Magic Johnson’s record), set the mark for most total postseason three-pointers by a rookie, and broke Alvan Adams’ rookie record of most consecutive playoff games scoring double-digit points.