Blake Griffin and the 25 Greatest Rookie Seasons in NBA History

Blake Griffin has been going buck wild on everyone in the NBA this season.

From throwing down ridiculous dunks to dropping 47 points in a game, he's been the closest thing to unstoppable we've seen in recent sports history.

Griffin's been so good during his rookie campaign that he's already locked up the Rookie of the Year award, he should be an All-Star and he'd probably be in the MVP race if he played for a better team.

But just how good has Blake Griffin been this season?

Well, let's see where the Los Angeles Clippers star ranks among the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history.

25. Tyreke Evans (2009-10)

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DALLAS - FEBRUARY 12: Tyreke Evans #13 of the Rookie team holds MVP trophy after defeating the Sophomore team during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam part of 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend at American Airlines Center on February 12, 2010 in Dallas, T

Tyreke Evans is one of only four rookies in NBA history to top the 20-5-5 mark in his rookie season, joining the likes of LeBron James, Oscar Robertston and Michael Jordan.

He averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Sacramento Kings along with 1.5 steals, and won the Rookie of the Year award.

Too bad his team was terrible.

24. Damon Stoudamire (1995-96)

The first-ever draft pick for the Toronto Raptors, Damon Stoudamire exploded onto the scene during his rookie season, averaging 19 points and 9.3 assists per game (fourth in the NBA).

He won the Rookie of the Year award after making a then-rookie record 133 three-pointers.

23. Alonzo Mourning (1992-93)

In his first season with the Charlotte Hornets, Alonzo Mourning averaged a double-double, with 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and finished fourth in the NBA with 3.5 blocks per contest.

Mourning helped lead the Hornets to their first playoff appearance, where he hit the game-winning shot in Game 4 of the team's first-round series to eliminate the Boston Celtics. 

22. Ralph Sampson (1983-84)

The No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Rockets, Ralph Samson averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds during his rookie campaign.

He was an All-Star and the 1983-84 Rookie of the Year. 

21. Bob Pettit (1954-55)

As a member of the Milwaukee Hawks, Bob Pettit averaged 20.4 points and a ridiculous 13.8 rebounds per game.

He won the Rookie of the Year award. 

20. LeBron James (2003-04)

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INDIANAPOLIS - DECEMBER 15: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers calls a play during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on December 15, 2003 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 95-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ackn

LeBron James entered the NBA with more hype than any prospect in league history and he delivered.

He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds on his way to being named the 2004 Rookie of the Year.

At the time, James was just the third rookie in NBA history to average 20-5-5.

19. Bill Russell (1956-57)

Although he only played 48 games for the Boston Celtics during his rookie season due to the Olympics, Bill Russell was a beast from the get-go.

He averaged 14.7 points and and pulled down 19.7 rebounds per game, the best average in the NBA.

18. Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-85)

In his inaugural NBA season, Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game for the Houston Rockets.

He finished second in the Rookie of the Year race...to Michael Jordan. 

17. Allen Iverson (1996-97)

The No. 1 overall pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, tiny Allen Iverson averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

He was named the Rookie of the Year and topped Wilt Chamberlain's rookie record by scoring at least 40 points in four straight games. 

16. Maurice Stokes (1956-57)

In his rookie campaign, Maurice Stokes set a then-NBA record for rebounds in a season with 1,256.

His 16.8 points and 16.2 rebounds per game make him one of only five rookies in NBA history to post 16/16 in the same season. 

15. Tim Duncan (1997-98)

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4 Nov 1997: Center Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won the game, 87-83. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

The first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in his first season.

He won the Rookie of the Year award and astoundingly won Rookie of the Month every month of the season.

14. Blake Griffin (2010-11)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 01: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks against the San Antonio Spurs during a 90-85 Clipper win at the Staples Center on December 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges a

Blake Griffin has taken the NBA by storm this season, averaging 22.6 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists at the time of writing.

He's already a lock for the Rookie of the Year award, and he could become just the third rookie ever to average 22 points, 12 rebounds and four assists per game.

13. Magic Johnson (1979-80)

The No. 1 overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1979 NBA Draft, Magic Johnson emerged as a triple-double threat right away, putting up 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.

He did not win the Rookie of the Year award, but he was named that season's Finals MVP, thanks in large part to an incredible performance (42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists) in the series-clinching Game 6 Laker victory. 

12. Shaquille O'Neal (1992-93)

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1992-1993: Center Shaquille O''Neal of the Orlando Magic celebrates during a game against the Denver Nuggets at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. Mandatory Credit: Tim DeFrisco /Allsport Mandatory Credit: Tim DeFrisco /Allsport

In his rookie season as a member of the Orlando Magic, Shaquille O'Neal averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.

The No. 1 overall pick out of LSU was the 1993 Rookie of the Year and the first rookie to start in the All-Star Game since Michael Jordan in 1985.

11. David Robinson (1989-90)

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1989-1990: Center David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball during a game. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

Though he was selected with the first pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, David Robinson did not play his first NBA game until 1989 because he was required to fulfill his commitment to the Navy.

When he finally entered the NBA, though, "The Admiral" had a heck of a rookie campaign, averaging 24.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game.

The Spurs won 35 more games than they did the season before.

10. Jerry Lucas (1963-64)

In his rookie season, Jerry Lucas averaged more than 17 points and 17 rebounds per game, despite being the fourth scoring option on a team with Oscar Robertson.

Lucas is one of only three players in NBA history to grab 40 or more rebounds in a game, joining the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and  Bill Russell. 

9. Larry Bird (1979-80)

As a rookie with the Boston Celtics, Larry Bird averaged 21.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, was an All-Star and edged out Magic Johnson for Rookie of the Year.

Perhaps most importantly, though, Bird helped the Celtics win 32 more games than they did during the previous season.

8. Michael Jordan (1984-1985)

Michael Jordan was an All-Star starter and ranked fourth in the league in scoring during his rookie campaign.

He averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field.

MJ is one of only two rookies in NBA history to average more than 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. 

7. Wes Unseld (1968-69)

In 1969, Wes Unseld became (and still is) just the second player in league history to win both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP award in the same season.

He averaged 13.8 points and a whopping 18.2 rebounds per game.

6. Elvin Hayes (1968-69)

Although he did not win the Rookie of the Year award over Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes led the league in scoring (28.4 points per game) and averaged 17.1 rebounds per contest.

Hayes is the last rookie to lead the NBA in scoring and one of just eight rookies to score 50 points in a single game. 

5. Elgin Baylor (1958-59)

In his rookie season, Elgin Baylor averaged 24.9 points and 15 rebounds per game and took the Los Angeles Lakers from last place to an appearance in the NBA Finals.

He ranked in the top 10 in points, rebounds and and assists per game and even dropped 55 points in a game.

4. Lew Alcindor (1969-70)

Before he was Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, he was Lew Alcindor and one heck of an NBA rookie.

During the 1969-70 campaign, Alcindor ranked second in the NBA in scoring with 28.8 points per game and third in rebounding with 14.5 per game.

The 1970 Rookie of the Year, Alcindor helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 29-game turnaround and finished third in the MVP voting. 

3. Walt Bellamy (1961-62)

As a rookie with the Chicago Packers (sounds weird, huh?), Walt Bellamy's averages were ridiculous: 31.6 points and 19 rebounds per game.

Bellamy also led the NBA in field goal percentage for a Packers team that didn't give him much help.

Only Wilt Chamberlain scored more points per game as in his rookie season than Bellamy.

2. Oscar Robertson (1960-61)

Oscar Robertson came about as close to averaging a triple double as you can get.

"The Big O" put up 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game and was just 20 total assists shy of averaging 30-10-10.

Surprise, surprise: Robertson won the Rookie of the Year Award. 

1. Wilt Chamberlain (1959-60)

Wilt Chamberlain had far and away the best rookie season in NBA history.

He averaged an eye-popping 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game on his way to becoming the first player in league history to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season.

I think it's pretty safe to say that no one, much less a rookie, will ever come anywhere close to Chamberlain's insane season.