Who Is The Best Rookie Of The Year From The 2010s?

Each year some of the best college and international prospects come into the NBA. Some of these players are selected high and are expected to do great things from the start. Others quietly have great rookie seasons. Each year the NBA awards the Rookie of the Year award to the “best” rookie from each season. Some of them deserved it, others did not. Today I will be finding the best rookie of the year from the 2010s.

#3 – Blake Griffin
2010-11 Season – LA Clippers

Griffin was drafted in 2009, but debuted in 2010 for the Clippers. And he did not disappoint. He was the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since David Robinson in 1990. Griffin averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds. He shot 50.6% from the field and 29.2% from 3. Griffin played in all 82 games for the 1st and only time in his career and he was playing 38.0 minutes per game which is also a career high.

Griffin’s debut was so awaited by the NBA, sort of the like the Zion debut, minus the Lebron comparisons. Griffin was a high flier and a box office guy for LA. Not that this counts for this race, but he had a great All-Star weekend in which won the dunk contest and was the 1st rookie All-Star since Yao Ming. Not bad for a rookie. Again, he was the unanimous rookie of the year above guys like John Wall and Demarcus Cousins.

While Griffin has been a solid player for the rest of his career, injuries have derailed him as of late. Hopefully he can get healthy soon and help a rebuilding Pistons team.

#2 – Ben Simmons
2017-18 Season – Philadelphia 76ers

After Simmons missed his 1st season with the foot injury, people were wondering if this would become a problem for the tall point guard from LSU. Simmons actual rookie season pushed that all away. Along with putting up great numbers, Simmons has remained pretty healthy during his time in the league so far.

In his rookie season, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists with 1.7 steals. He shot 54.5% from the field and played in 81 games. With Simmons playing in 81 games, the “not healthy” label was quickly moved off of him.

Also, he shot almost 55% from the field while shooting 0% from 3. Simmons did make a single 3 in his rookie season, and while he was made a few so far, he can’t shoot. So it’s very impressive that he shot that well in an era where 99% of people can shoot.

The year prior to Simmons debut, the 76ers went 28-54. And in his rookie season, they went 52-30. Yes him and Embiid were both healthy, but a 24 win improvement is still a lot in the NBA. The 76ers went to the 2nd round of the playoffs that season and the future has been looking bright ever since.

Simmons’s struggled in the playoffs with his inability to shoot, but he still had a great regular season. He had 12 triple-doubles which was 2nd to just Oscar Robertson for a player in their rookie season.

Of course you have the “what is a rookie” talk with him and Donovan Mitchell that season, which was all really petty. It was funny that Mitchell had the rookie shirt and van, but the talk on Twitter and whatnot was just petty and bad in general. I mean Simmons was technically a rookie because it was his first year actually playing. It’s an unpopular decision, but it’s true. Also Simmons had an injury his initial season, the season where he sat out. That did not magically go away and heal perfectly when he started playing. Those type of injuries are very serious for an NBA player and have ruined lots of careers. So Simmons very well could have burned out quickly.

But he didn’t and he was turned into one of the best guards in the NBA today. The only questions with Simmons remain with his jumpshot and his ability to help the 76ers with playoff success.

#1 – Luka Doncic
2018-19 Season – Dallas Mavericks

While Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons sat out a year to get healthy and stronger in preparation for their actual rookie season, Doncic was grown man lite as a 19 year old kid. Doncic had been playing in the 2nd best basketball league in the world since he was 16 years old. He was used to playing against men. And in his rookie season with the Mavs, he showed out.

Doncic averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists with 1.1 steals per game. He shot 42.7% from the field and 32.7% from 3. He played in 72 games.

And, Doncic did not have Kristaps Porzingis with him for his rookie season, so he was the only star on that Mavs team. Doncic’s statline is matched by Oscar Robertson’s rookie season. So, he was pretty good to say the least.

Doncic was 10th overall in points scored in the clutch. Not amongst rookies, in the whole NBA. Doncic was 3rd All-Time in 3-pointers made by rookies and he is the 2nd youngest player to record a triple-double behind Markelle Fultz.

Of course now Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA as he has taken leaps from his rookie season which was already impressive enough. Doncic has one of the brightest futures in the NBA, and his rookie campaign was very telling of that.

What do you think? Which 3 rookie of the year campaigns would be on your top-3 list? Does Luka Doncic’s ROTY campaign deserve to be #1? Leave all of your comments down below.

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