List of NBA rookie single-season scoring leaders

This list exhibits the National Basketball Association's top rookie single-season scoring averages based on at least 70 games played or 1,400 points scored. The NBA began recording 3-point field goals during the 1979–80 season.^[1][2]

*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
^	Active NBA player
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration^[a]
Bold	Denotes NBA season leaders

Rank	Season	Player	Team	Games	FG	3PFG	FT	Pts	PPG
1	1959–60	Wilt Chamberlain*	Philadelphia Warriors	72	1,065	—	577	2,707	37.6
2	1961–62	Walt Bellamy*	Chicago Packers	79	973	—	549	2,495	31.6
3	1960–61	Oscar Robertson*	Cincinnati Royals	71	756	—	653	2,165	30.5
4	1969–70	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*	Milwaukee Bucks	82	938	—	485	2,361	28.8
5	1968–69	Elvin Hayes*	San Diego Rockets	82	930	—	467	2,327	28.4
6	1984–85	Michael Jordan*	Chicago Bulls	82	837	9	630	2,313	28.2
7	1965–66	Rick Barry*	San Francisco Warriors	80	745	—	569	2,059	25.7
8	1962–63	Terry Dischinger	Chicago Zephyrs	57	525	—	402	1,452	25.5
9	1958–59	Elgin Baylor*	Minneapolis Lakers	70	605	—	532	1,742	24.9
10	1970–71	Geoff Petrie	Portland Trail Blazers	82	784	—	463	2,031	24.8
11	1971–72	Sidney Wicks	Portland Trail Blazers	82	784	—	441	2,009	24.5
12	1989–90	David Robinson*	San Antonio Spurs	82	690	0	613	1,993	24.3
13	1967–68	Earl Monroe*	Baltimore Bullets	82	742	—	507	1,991	24.3
14	1977–78	Walter Davis*	Phoenix Suns	81	786	—	387	1,959	24.2
15	1977–78	Bernard King*	New Jersey Nets	79	798	—	313	1,909	24.2
16	1982–83	Terry Cummings	San Diego Clippers	70	684	0	292	1,660	23.7
17	1996–97	Allen Iverson*	Philadelphia 76ers	76	625	155	382	1,787	23.5
18	1949–50	Alex Groza	Indianapolis Olympians	64	521	—	454	1,496	23.4
19	1992–93	Shaquille O'Neal*	Orlando Magic	81	733	0	427	1,893	23.4
20	1970–71	Pete Maravich*	Atlanta Hawks	81	738	—	404	1,880	23.2
21	1986–87	Ron Harper	Cleveland Cavaliers	82	734	20	386	1,874	22.9
22	2010–11	Blake Griffin^†	Los Angeles Clippers	82	696	7	446	1,845	22.5
23	1988–89	Mitch Richmond*	Golden State Warriors	79	649	33	410	1,741	22.0
24	1994–95	Glenn Robinson	Milwaukee Bucks	80	636	86	397	1,755	21.9
25	1979–80	Bill Cartwright	New York Knicks	82	665	0	451	1,781	21.7

See also

• NBA records
• National Basketball Association
•   Basketball portal

Notes

1. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.

References

1. Kyle Daubs (25 November 2021). "Top 10 NBA Players With The Most PPG During A Rookie Season: Wilt Chamberlain Was A Scoring God Since His First Season". fadeawayworld.net. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
2. Cody Taylor (13 August 2022). "The top rookie scorers in every NBA season since the merger". The Rookie Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 17 February 2023.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com