NBA Players with the Most Points Scored in Their Rookie Season

Explore the NBA players who delivered the best stats ever in a 1st NBA season, ranked by regular season total points. See how the all-time greats compare in this top-50 historical list.

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Other Stats

Total

3-Pointers Made Per Game

Total

Which NBA player had the most total points in the Regular Season in his rookie year?

Playing for the 1960 Philadelphia Warriors, Wilt Chamberlain recorded a total of 2,707 points in 72 games — the highest total ever by an NBA player in his 1st season.

Total Points, Rookie Season

2,707 pts
Wilt Chamberlain
(1960 Philadelphia Warriors)

Note: = NBA champion in this season.

Total Points in a Player's Rookie Season - Top 50

Regular Season

		Points			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	3pm
1	Wilt Chamberlain (1960 Warriors)	2,707	37.6	72	1,941	168	-	-	-
2	Walt Bellamy (1962 Packers)	2,495	31.6	79	1,500	210	-	-	-
3	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970 Bucks)	2,361	28.8	82	1,190	337	-	-	-
4	Elvin Hayes (1969 Rockets)	2,327	28.4	82	1,406	113	-	-	-
5	Michael Jordan (1985 Bulls)	2,313	28.2	82	534	481	196	69	9
6	Oscar Robertson (1961 Royals)	2,165	30.5	71	716	690	-	-	-
7	David Thompson (1977 Nuggets)	2,125	25.9	82	334	337	114	53	-
8	Billy Knight (1977 Pacers)	2,075	26.6	78	582	260	117	19	-
9	Rick Barry (1966 Warriors)	2,059	25.7	80	850	173	-	-	-
10	Geoff Petrie (1971 Trail Blazers)	2,031	24.8	82	280	390	-	-	-

		Points			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	3pm
11	Sidney Wicks (1972 Trail Blazers)	2,009	24.5	82	943	350	-	-	-
12	Connie Hawkins (1970 Suns)	1,995	24.6	81	846	391	-	-	-
13	David Robinson (1990 Spurs)	1,993	24.3	82	983	164	138	319	0
14	Earl Monroe (1968 Bullets)	1,991	24.3	82	465	349	-	-	-
15	Walter Davis (1978 Suns)	1,959	24.2	81	484	273	113	20	-
16	Bernard King (1978 Nets)	1,909	24.2	79	751	193	122	36	-
17	George Gervin (1977 Spurs)	1,895	23.1	82	454	238	105	104	-
18	Shaquille O'Neal (1993 Magic)	1,893	23.4	81	1,122	152	60	286	0
19	Pete Maravich (1971 Hawks)	1,880	23.2	81	298	355	-	-	-
20	Ron Harper (1987 Cavaliers)	1,874	22.9	82	392	394	209	84	20

		Points			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	3pm
21	Blake Griffin (2011 Clippers)	1,845	22.5	82	989	312	63	45	7
22	Ron Boone (1977 Kings)	1,818	22.2	82	321	338	119	19	-
23	Allen Iverson (1997 76ers)	1,787	23.5	76	312	567	157	24	155
24	Bill Cartwright (1980 Knicks)	1,781	21.7	82	726	165	48	101	0
25	Kelly Tripucka (1982 Pistons)	1,772	21.6	82	443	270	89	16	5
26	Julius Erving (1977 76ers)	1,770	21.6	82	695	306	159	113	-
27	George McGinnis (1976 76ers)	1,769	23.0	77	967	359	198	41	-
28	Dan Issel (1977 Nuggets)	1,765	22.3	79	696	177	91	29	-
29	Glenn Robinson (1995 Bucks)	1,755	21.9	80	513	197	115	22	86
30	Larry Bird (1980 Celtics)	1,745	21.3	82	852	370	143	53	58

		Points			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	3pm
31	Elgin Baylor (1959 Lakers)	1,742	24.9	70	1,050	287	-	-	-
32	Mitch Richmond (1989 Warriors)	1,741	22.0	79	468	334	82	13	33
33	Jay Vincent (1982 Mavericks)	1,732	21.4	81	565	176	89	22	1
34	Tim Duncan (1998 Spurs)	1,731	21.1	82	977	224	55	206	0
35	Carmelo Anthony (2004 Nuggets)	1,725	21.0	82	498	227	97	41	69
36	Ralph Sampson (1984 Rockets)	1,720	21.0	82	913	163	70	197	1
37	Larry Kenon (1977 Spurs)	1,705	21.9	78	879	229	167	60	-
38	George Mikan (1949 Lakers)	1,698	28.3	60	-	218	-	-	-
39	Hakeem Olajuwon (1985 Rockets)	1,692	20.6	82	974	111	99	220	0
40	Darrell Griffith (1981 Jazz)	1,671	20.6	81	288	194	106	40	10

		Points			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	3pm
41	Terry Cummings (1983 Clippers)	1,660	23.7	70	744	177	129	62	0
42	LeBron James (2004 Cavaliers)	1,654	20.9	79	432	465	130	58	63
43	Alonzo Mourning (1993 Hornets)	1,639	21.0	78	805	76	27	271	0
44	Elton Brand (2000 Bulls)	1,627	20.1	81	810	155	66	132	0
45	Clark Kellogg (1983 Pacers)	1,625	20.1	81	860	223	141	43	4
46	Kevin Durant (2008 Supersonics)	1,624	20.3	80	348	192	78	75	59
47	Donovan Mitchell (2018 Jazz)	1,616	20.5	79	296	291	118	27	187
48	Dave Bing (1967 Pistons)	1,601	20.0	80	359	330	-	-	-
49	Maurice Lucas (1977 Trail Blazers)	1,599	20.2	79	899	229	83	56	-
50	Larry Johnson (1992 Hornets)	1,576	19.2	82	899	292	81	51	5

* The NBA began recording rebounds in 1951, steals and blocks in 1974, and added the 3-point line in 1980.