Notable NBA All-Star Rookies

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 18, 2011

Notable NBA All-Star Rookies

Blake Griffin

After sitting out his first official season in the league because of a fracture in his knee, Blake Griffin returned in full force this year, turning in one highlight-reel dunk after another and tallying 27 straight double-doubles earlier in the season. Griffin was selected as a reserve in the 2011 All-Star Game, making him the 44th rookie -- and the first since 2003 -- named to the midseason showdown. In light of Griffin's honor, here's a look back at some of the most notable rookie All-Stars.

Yao Ming

The much-hyped 7-6 center silenced critics by averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in his rookie season. A runner-up to Amar'e Stoudemire in the Rookie of the Year voting, Yao displaced Shaquille O'Neal for a starting spot on the West All-Star team. Despite his success in the first half of the season, though, he recorded only two points and two rebounds in 17 minutes, while sitting out the fourth quarter and both overtimes of the West's win. Including 2011, when he's been injured most of the season, the Houston Rocket has been voted an All-Star every year he's played in the NBA.

Tim Duncan

Before Blake Griffin in 2011, Duncan was the last rookie to be selected an All-Star by the coaches. Duncan, who has led the Spurs to four championships, has been voted an All-Star 13 times (including this year) and was named the game's MVP in 2000.

Shaquille O'Neal

The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds in his first season, with Orlando, enough to be named Rookie of the Year. In his first of 15 All-Star Games, Shaq scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds but the East lost 135-132 in overtime.

David Robinson

Though Robinson entered the 1987 draft and was selected with top overall pick by San Antonio, the Spurs had to wait two years while the 7-foot-1 center fulfilled his service in the Navy. When he joined the team in 1989, the future Hall of Famer led San Antonio to the then greatest single-season turnaround in league history, from 21-61 to 56-26, and averaged 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks in his Rookie of the Year campaign. In his first of 10 All-Star games, Robinson posted a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in a 130-113 loss for the West.

Michael Jordan

In his first season as a pro, Jordan averaged 28.2 points on 51.5 percent shooting and was voted an All-Star starter and the league's Rookie of the Year. All signs pointed toward a spectacular career, but few could've seen what "His Airness" had in store. Six NBA championships, six Finals MVP awards, five NBA MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, 10 NBA scoring titles, 14 All-Star selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards a spot in the Hall of Fame and -- and -- a reputation (according to many) as the greatest player to step foot on the court.

Hakeem Olajuwon

Selected first overall by the Rockets in '84, the 7-foot Nigerian made his mark on the league with rookie averages of 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks alongside Ralph Sampson in Houston. Olajuwon helped the Rockets improve from 29-53 to 48-34, while finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting, behind Michael Jordan. Among the Hall of Famer's many career highlights: two NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, two Defensive Player of the Year honors, an Olympic gold medal and a record 3,830 blocks.

Isiah Thomas

Don't let his career as a coach and executive overshadow his playing days. Selected second overall by the Pistons -- with whom he spent his entire 13-year career -- the Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion was named to his first All-Star Game in 1982, and went on to earn Rookie of the Year and a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team. He had 12 points and four assists in the East's 120-118 win in his first All-Star Game.

Magic Johnson

The Lakers' great owns pretty much every basketball trophy and accolade available: an NCAA championship, five NBA titles, three MVPs, three Finals MVPs ,12 All-Star appearances, two All-Star Game MVPs, an Olympic gold medal and a spot in the Hall of Fame. A starter in his first All-Star Game, Johnson -- the league's all-time leader in assists per game (11.2) -- scored 12 points and dished out four assists, though the West lost 144-136 in overtime.

Larry Bird

The three-time NBA champion and three-time NBA MVP, Bird was selected to his first of 12 All-Star Games in 1980, when he turned heads for becoming the highest-paid rookie in league history at the time with a $650,000 salary. And he was worth every penny. He led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points) and rebounding (10.4), as well as total steals (143) and minutes (2,955). He was, fittingly, named the league's Rookie of the Year that season, and helped the East to a 144-136 overtime victory over the West and his rival on the court, Magic Johnson.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The league's all-time leader in career points (38,387) and All-Star appearances (18, though he was selected to 19), Abdul-Jabbar also holds records with six blocks in the 1980 Game and 31 total in his All-Star career. In his first NBA season, as a Milwaukee Buck, Lew Alcindor, as he was then known, was second in the league in scoring (28.8 points) and third in rebounding (14.5) and won the Rookie of the Year award. And in only his second season, he won his first of six NBA championships and MVP awards.

Jerry West

The 6-foot-2 guard out of West Virginia was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers -- who relocated to L.A. shortly after drafting him -- with the second overall pick. "Mr. Clutch" quickly established himself as one of the Lakers' primary options on offense, averaging 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists his first year. The combo guard was named to the first of 14 All-Star Games, in which he had nine points and four assists in the West's 153-131 win. West went on to earn an All-Star Game MVP award (1972), 12 All-NBA team selections, an NBA championship (`72), a Finals MVP ('69) and a spot among the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team as a player.

Oscar Robertson

The 6-5 rookie phenom showed up the veterans and led the Western Conference to a 153-131 rout of the East. Robertson, of the Cincinnati Royals, was named MVP after recording 23 points and 14 assists. But that game was just a blip in Robertson's all-around incredible career. He was the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season, and he did so in just his second year as a pro. As Celtics coach Red Auerbach once said of Big O: "He is so great he scares me."

Wilt Chamberlain

Just as he did throughout his career, Chamberlain dominated in his first All-Star Game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 25 rebounds to lead the East to a 125-115 win in his home arena, Philadelphia's Convention Hall. Chamberlain was the East's top scorer and the game's MVP, and finished his rookie campaign with an average of 37.6 points and 27 rebounds, both regular-season records. He was named the league's MVP and Rookie of the Year that season. As for the rest of his career, we'll keep it short and say this: The man holds 72 -- seventy-two! -- all-time NBA records.

Elgin Baylor

In his first NBA season, the Minneapolis Laker finished fourth in the league in scoring (24.9 points per game), eighth in assists (4.1) and third in rebounding (15.0) en route to winning the Rookie of the Year award. And for the reeling Lakers franchise, Baylor's sweet jumper and complete game saved the team from crumbling; he took them from last place in 1958, to the NBA Finals in `59. Baylor was voted to his first of 11 All-Star Games that season, and led the West to a 124-108 victory while sharing the Game's MVP award with West teammate Bob Petit of the St. Louis Hawks. He ranks fourth all time in scoring average.

Bob Cousy

The 6-foot-1 "Houdini of the Hardwood" (right) averaged 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists in his first NBA season. He was named to his first of 13 All-NBA teams that year and was selected to the league's first All-Star Game, in 1951, along with teammate Ed Macauley (left), helping the East to a 111-94 victory. Boston's Cousy went on to win six NBA championships, an MVP award and eight of the league's first 11 assist titles to earn a legacy as the game's first great point guard.