NBA rookie season leaders: Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar and more

The 2024-2025 NBA season is getting closer and closer. Current draft picks have demonstrated their prowess in the preseason to show why they deserve big minutes when regular season games begin.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 17th pick in the 2024 draft, Dalton Knecht, had a memorable night on October 17 against the Phoenix Suns. He scored 20 straight points and finished with 35 in an overtime win. Even though it’s the preseason, Knecht is showing promise for a franchise that has produced historic rookie seasons with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Magic Johnson and others.

But the Lakers aren’t the only team with standout rookies. Check out the players who scored the most points in their first season in the NBA:

• Wilt Chamberlain, 2,707, Philadelphia Warriors, 1959-1960

• Walt Bellamy, 2,495, Chicago Packers, 1961-1962

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 2,361, Milwaukee Bucks, 1969-1970

• Elvin Hayes, 2,327, San Diego Rockets, 1968-1969

• Michael Jordan, 2,313, Chicago Bulls, 1984-1985

• Oscar Robertson, 2,165, Cincinnati Royals, 1960-1961

• Rick Barry, 2,059, San Francisco Warriors, 1965-1966

• Geoff Petrie, 2,031, Portland Trail Blazers, 1970-1971

• Sidney Wicks, 2,009, Portland Trail Blazers, 1971-1972

• David Robinson, 1,993, San Antonio Spurs, 1989-1990

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