1) Magic Johnson, Lakers, 1980

Johnson’s rookie regular season was successful by any available metric but also overshadowed by his rival Larry Bird winning Rookie of the Year and teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earning league MVP. But the postseason was a different story, with Johnson standing alone. He averaged nearly a triple-double across 16 playoff games, and set the still standing rookie records with 151 assists, 49 steals, and 2.8 win shares. 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 by a rookie in NBA postseason history, and five of them came from Johnson.

2) Manu Ginobili, Spurs, 2003

Nursing an ankle injury and struggling to adjust to the NBA style of play, Ginobili got off to a slow start with the Spurs despite already being 25 years old as a rookie. 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. 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 with 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

Adams wasn’t the only ’70s NBA player to peak statistically as a rookie but he was arguably the best. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in ’75-’76 for the Suns after averaging 19.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Those would both turn out to be career highs, and his All-Star appearance that season was the only one in his 13-year career. Adams’ postseason performance was similarly a career peak. He was especially impressive in the NBA Finals, going toe-to-toe with Celtics legend Dave Cowens, averaging 23.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. 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 had only a little bit to do with their third overall pick Tatum. Already a Conference Finals team in 2017, Boston added Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving that offseason. But come playoff time, with Hayward and Irving both sidelined by injuries, it was the Tatum show. He kicked things off with a double-double in his postseason debut, in a first round win over the Bucks, and ultimately 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 (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 was a territorial pick from nearby Holy Cross and had the biggest regular season impact, averaging 16.2 points per game and earning Rookie of the Year. Russell missed the first third of the season to participate in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne but slowly transformed the Celtics during his rookie campaign. Heinsohn was Boston’s leading scorer in the 1957 postseason but Russell was the difference maker. 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

Four years removed from their last title, the Spurs dynasty looked effectively finished after a stunning 2011 first round upset against the Grizzlies as a #1 seed. General manager R.C. Buford took a calculated risk on draft day, trading promising young guard George Hill for the rights to Leonard, a physical marvel with a perceived lack of offensive skill. His rookie season started slow but he thrived down the stretch after getting inserted into the starting lineup and it turns out having a demonic defensive presence at the wing 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. Two years later, Leonard earned Finals MVP as the Spurs dynasty added a fifth title trophy.

9) Marques Johnson, Bucks, 1978

A #3 overall pick out of UCLA, Johnson’s arrival in Milwaukee coincided serendipitously with new coach Don Nelson. In his revolutionary “point forward” strategy, Nelson unleashed the 6’7″ Johnson as an oversized play maker and offensive catalyst. The Bucks improved by 18 wins in ’77-’78 and reached the playoffs for the first time since trading away Johnson’s fellow Bruins alumnus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson was even more outstanding in the postseason, leading Milwaukee in scoring and rebounding and becoming the only post-merger rookie to score 30+ points in the playoffs three or more times. He led the Bucks to a first round sweep of the Suns and then a near upset of the Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals. In a must win game six against Denver, Johnson responded with 17 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists, and four blocks.

10) Antonio Davis, Pacers, 1994

Already 25 years old due to three seasons playing in Europe, Davis 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

Rick Barry’s incredible, do-it-all performance was the main catalyst for the Warriors winning the 1975 NBA championship but Wilkes cannot be overlooked. An 11th overall pick, Wilkes (who went by Keith Wilkes at the time before later converting to Islam and changing his name) earned Rookie of the Year and played even better in the subsequent postseason. Despite coming off the bench, Wilkes was second on the Warriors in scoring (at 15.0 points per game) and third in rebounding. He also contributed on the defensive end, especially with his harassing of larger Bullets power forward Elvin Hayes in the NBA Finals. Getting overshadowed by star teammates in the postseason would become a bit of a career motif for Wilkes, who was also incredible in the 1982 Lakers title run and arguably deserved Finals MVP over Magic Johnson.

12) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bucks, 1970

No player has hit the NBA ready to dominate quite like Abdul-Jabbar. Not only did he easily earn Rookie of the Year, Abdul-Jabbar also finished third in MVP voting and pushed the Bucks to improve from 27 wins in ’68-’69 to 56-26 in ’69-’70. In a Conference Semifinals win over the 76ers, Abdul-Jabbar finished with 46 points and 25 rebounds in the clinching game five. He became just the second rookie ever to reach those statistical milestones in a playoff game, joining Wilt Chamberlain. Milwaukee then lost in the Conference Finals to the Knicks but it was certainly no fault of Abdul-Jabbar, who arguably outplayed reigning league MVP Willis Reed in the series. Despite appearing in just 10 games, Abdul-Jabbar set the still standing rookie record with 352 total postseason points, while his 168 total rebounds is tied for fifth.

“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

The Lakers missed the playoffs in 1958 for the first time in franchise history, finishing 19-53 under as a George Mikan stint as head proved disastrous. But Lakers haters could rejoice for only so long, as the team turned around completely in ’58-’59 thanks to Baylor. A first overall pick, Baylor was an offensive revelation, exceedingly athletic and able to play above the rim in an unprecedented manner. He averaged 24.9 points and 15.0 rebounds per game as a rookie, was named Rookie of the Year and 1st-Team All-NBA, and finished third in MVP voting. Baylor then hit another level in the playoffs, leading an otherwise pedestrian Lakers roster to a shocking Conference Finals upset over the Hawks, averaging 28.3 points per game in the series. A subsequent incredible performance in an NBA Finals losing effort against the Celtics portended the remainder of Baylor’s career.

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

A second round pick out of Texas, Gibson played scant minutes for the Cavaliers in his rookie regular season, averaging just 4.6 points per game. But Cleveland’s lack of back court depth was becoming more and more evident by the playoffs, leaving opportunities for Gibson. Combine that with his terrific three-point shooting contrasting with the team’s otherwise anemic scoring, and Gibson became a surprise x-factor in a Conference Finals upset over the Pistons. In a game four Cavs win that shifted the tide of the series, Gibson was their second leading scorer with 21 points off the bench. He was even more impressive in the clinching game six, finishing with a game high 31 points and shooting 5-of-5 from three-point range. That momentum didn’t carry over much into the NBA Finals for Gibson and his performance against the Pistons would prove to be a career zenith.

16) Alonzo Mourning, Hornets, 1993

One of the most underrated rookie seasons in NBA history came from Mourning, who was overshadowed by Rookie of the Year winner 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 ROY voting. But while O’Neal had to watch the postseason on television, 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

It’s been over 65 years now and counting but Kerr is still, to this day, the only rookie starting center on an NBA championship team. A 6’9″ post beast, Kerr was drafted sixth overall by the Syracuse Nationals and was a welcome sight for Dolph Schayes, who could shift back to his more natural power forward position. Kerr was the team’s second leading scorer and rebounder after Schayes in the regular season, then scored 27 points in his playoff debut. His postseason contributions were a little inconsistent from there but Kerr stepped up huge at the tail end of the NBA Finals. He finished with 23 points in a game six Nationals victory, then dropped 13 points and 12 rebounds in the winner-take-all game seven. This would turn out to be the one title of Kerr’s 13-year career but he only improved individually, eventually making three All-Star teams.

18) Dwyane Wade, Heat, 2004

Carmelo Anthony led all rookies in scoring, Chris Bosh in win shares, and LeBron James was named Rookie of the Year. But the first member of the vaunted draft class of 2003 to have a postseason impact was Wade. Not that he was any slouch in the regular season either, averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game while the Heat improved by 17 wins over the prior season. Wade was similarly solid in a first round series win over the Hornets, most notably with a buzzer beater in game one, but really broke out in spurring a near upset over the Pacers in the Conference Semifinals. Wade led Miami in scoring and assists in the series, despite often being shadowed by shutdown defender Metta World Peace. That summer, the Heat traded for Shaquille O’Neal, setting up Wade for bigger playoff successes, culminating in a championship and Finals MVP trophy in 2006. 

19) Maurice Cheeks, 76ers, 1979

Point guard was long a weak spot for the 76ers until they landed on an unlikely solution in Cheeks. Drafted late in the second round out Division II West Texas A&M, 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 handed him the offensive keys from day one. There were some ups and downs for Cheeks during the season but Cunningham’s trust in his rookie point guard paid off in the playoffs. In a Conference Semifinals loss to the Spurs, Cheeks was second in scoring with 20.6 points per game and led the team with 7.6 assists per game. While Philadelphia dropped that series in seven games it was a true preview of things to come, with Cheeks retaining his job for another decade, including in the ’82-’83 title run.

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. He also made an All-Star appearance and landed spots on the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. As a result, 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 averaged 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.

21) Jack Sikma, SuperSonics, 1978

Despite coming out of Division II Illinois Wesleyan, Sikma was immediately given the starting center position for the SuperSonics. His patented “Sikma Move” fadeaway jumper caught opponents off guard and the young Sikma peaked come postseason. It was a playoff introduction trial by fire, facing off in succession against opposing centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Dan Issel, and Wes Unseld. Sikma held his own, averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over the course of the playoffs which ended in a game seven NBA Finals loss to the Bullets. Sikma was spectacular in that final contest, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds. 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

Leading the Warriors to an NBA title as a rookie was just a continuation of Gola’s winning ways at every level. He had previously carried his high school team to a Pennsylvania state title, then La Salle to NIT and NCAA Tournament championships. Slotting seamlessly into the Warriors lineup at shooting guard, his ball handling skills were a key component for the already talented team. Gola was also a terrific rebounder for his size, finishing second on Philadelphia in the category and averaging a double-double for the playoffs. There were some lulls for him during the playoffs but he exploded in the Warriors’ final three games, averaging 17.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists to close out the NBA Finals. Gola likely expected his winning ways to continue indefinitely but he would never return to the Finals again in his 11 NBA seasons.

23) Tyler Herro, Heat, 2020

When fellow rookie Kendrick Nunn was struggling during the ’19-’20 restart, the Heat turned to a man appropriately named Herro. Though he was a lottery pick of the Heat, Herro had played limited minutes behind the less heralded Nunn all season. That changed in the playoffs, when Herro became first a sixth man extraordinaire and later the starting shooting guard. In a Conference Finals upset of the Celtics, Herro averaged 19.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. He had a near triple-double in Miami’s game one win, then 37 points 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. Herro later 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, set the rookie record of most consecutive playoff games scoring 10+ points.