Every year, a new group of rookies enters the NBA with high hopes and big expectations. They bring energy to struggling teams and offer crucial support to contenders. At the end of each regular season, the league honors the rookie who made the most significant impact.
A panel of 100 media members selects the NBA Rookie of the Year by voting for their top three candidates. First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes earn three, and third-place votes get one. Since 2023, the winner receives the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, previously known as the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy.
Every Rookie of the Year Winner in History
Below is a chronological list of every Rookie of the Year winner from 1953 to 2025.
- 1953: Don Meineke (Fort Wayne Pistons)
- 1954: Ray Felix (Baltimore Bullets)
- 1955: Bob Pettit (Milwaukee Hawks)
- 1956: Maurice Stokes (Rochester Royals)
- 1957: Tom Heinsohn (Boston Celtics)
- 1958: Woody Sauldsberry (Philadelphia Warriors)
- 1959: Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis Lakers)
- 1960: Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors)
- 1961: Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals)
- 1962: Walt Bellamy (Chicago Packers)
- 1963: Terry Dischinger (Chicago Zephyrs)
- 1964: Jerry Lucas (Cincinnati Royals)
- 1965: Willis Reed (New York Knicks)
- 1966: Rick Barry (San Francisco Warriors)
- 1967: Dave Bing (Detroit Pistons)
- 1968: Earl Monroe (Baltimore Bullets)
- 1969: Wes Unseld (Baltimore Bullets)
- 1970: Lew Alcindor (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 1971: Geoff Petrie (Portland Trail Blazers) and Dave Cowens (Boston Celtics)
- 1972: Sidney Wicks (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 1973: Bob McAdoo (Buffalo Braves)
- 1974: Ernie DiGregorio (Buffalo Braves)
- 1975: Jamaal Wilkes (Golden State Warriors)
- 1976: Alvan Adams (Phoenix Suns)
- 1977: Adrian Dantley (Buffalo Braves)
- 1978: Walter Davis (Phoenix Suns)
- 1979: Phil Ford (Kansas City Kings)
- 1980: Larry Bird (Boston Celtics)
- 1981: Darrell Griffith (Utah Jazz)
- 1982: Buck Williams (New Jersey Nets)
- 1983: Terry Cummings (San Diego Clippers)
- 1984: Ralph Sampson (Houston Rockets)
- 1985: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
- 1986: Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks)
- 1987: Chuck Person (Indiana Pacers)
- 1988: Mark Jackson (New York Knicks)
- 1989: Mitch Richmond (Golden State Warriors)
- 1990: David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
- 1991: Derrick Coleman (New Jersey Nets)
- 1992: Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets)
- 1993: Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando Magic)
- 1994: Chris Webber (Golden State Warriors)
- 1995: Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons) and Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
- 1996: Damon Stoudamire (Toronto Raptors)
- 1997: Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 1998: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
- 1999: Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors)
- 2000: Steve Francis (Houston Rockets) and Elton Brand (Chicago Bulls)
- 2001: Mike Miller (Orlando Magic)
- 2002: Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
- 2003: Amar’e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)
- 2004: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2005: Emeka Okafor (Charlotte Bobcats)
- 2006: Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets)
- 2007: Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 2008: Kevin Durant (Seattle SuperSonics)
- 2009: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
- 2010: Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)
- 2011: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
- 2012: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2013: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 2014: Michael Carter-Williams (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2015: Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2016: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2017: Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2018: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2019: Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks)
- 2020: Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
- 2021: LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets)
- 2022: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
- 2023: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
- 2024: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
- 2025: Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the winner of the 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
The complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VrvxR9N4tT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 29, 2025
A total of 24 No. 1 overall picks have gone on to win the Rookie of the Year award. Out of all winners, only 16 have gone on to be named NBA Most Valuable Player in their careers. Only two players — Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld — earned both honors in the same season.
While the Rookie of the Year award has been dominated by U.S.-born players, a few international stars have broken through. Pau Gasol (Spain), Andrew Wiggins (Canada), Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic), Ben Simmons (Australia), Luka Dončić (Slovenia), Patrick Ewing (Jamaica), and Victor Wembanyama (France) are the only non-U.S.-born players to win the award.
The San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle is the latest addition to the list. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 42.8% from the field and 28.5% from 3-point range during the 2024–25 season.
