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. Wilt Chamberlain holds the rookie record, averaging 37.6 points per game in 1959–60.[1] The NBA began recording 3-point field goals during the 1979–80 season.[2]
| 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
Notes
References
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