The greatest rookie seasons in NBA history share a number of qualities, starting with individual statistical dominance. However, you can't overlook the context beyond the box score; initial expectations, team success, and overall legacy all matter.
While we wait for the 2019-20 season to resume, theScore's NBA editors have dusted off the record books to determine the top 25 rookie seasons in league history.
No. 7 in our series is Baltimore/Washington Bullets legend Wes Unseld. Catch up on previous posts in the series here.
Before the Association
Unseld made a name for himself without leaving home. The native of Kentucky led his local high school to a pair of state championships before starring for his hometown Louisville Cardinals. From 1965-68, the 6-foot-7 center averaged 20.6 points on 55.8% shooting while grabbing 18.9 boards per contest.
The Missouri Valley Conference's leading rebounder in each of his three collegiate seasons, Unseld sits second on the Cardinals' all-time list with 1,551 boards. He was a first-team All-American in his junior and senior years as he led Louisville to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances. His No. 31 is one of four numbers retired by the school.
Draft day
As the last-place team in the Eastern Division, the Baltimore Bullets (now known as the Washington Wizards) had a 50-50 chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in 1968 NBA Draft. They wound up losing the coin toss that determined which team would select first. The San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) took Elvin Hayes with the top pick, while Unseld went second to the Bullets.
The cream of the crop in a weak draft class, both Hayes and Unseld were later inducted into the Hall of Fame and named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Baltimore acquired Hayes from the Rockets in 1972, and he and Unself formed a potent frontcourt tandem over the next nine seasons.
Individual success
Though he was undersized for his position, Unseld often stymied taller counterparts with his strength and positioning. He was a monster on the glass and often delivered quick, precise outlet passes to jump-start the Bullets' transition game.
Unseld thrived in a supporting offensive role during his first year in the Association, averaging 13.8 points on a team-high 47.6% shooting. He trailed only Wilt Chamberlain in total rebounds (1,491), averaged the fifth-most boards (18.2 per game) in the league, and finished second in defensive win shares (7.0). His performance earned him his lone All-NBA first-team selection and the first of five All-Star nods.
Unseld capped the 1968-69 campaign with Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, joining Chamberlain as the only players in league history to capture both awards in their debut season.
Team success
The addition of Unseld catapulted Baltimore to an Association-best 57-25 mark in 1968-69, as the Bullets won 21 more games than they had the season prior. The ex-Louisville standout anchored an improved defense that ranked second in efficiency (91.7 points per 100 possessions) and surrendered nearly six points fewer per contest compared to the previous campaign.
Hall of Famer Earl Monroe and Kevin Loughery constituted Baltimore's starting backcourt that season. The two were not only among the NBA's top-scoring duos, but they were each solid playmakers as well. The club, however, was unable to carry its regular-season success into the playoffs, as the New York Knicks swept the Bullets in the Eastern Division semifinals.
Enduring legacy
With Unseld a member of their core, the Bullets qualified for the next 11 postseasons, making four Finals appearances in that span. The franchise icon remained a pillar on the defensive end and was among the league's top rebounders on an annual basis. After years of playoff disappointment, Unseld was named Finals MVP after leading the organization to its first and only NBA title in 1978.
The 13-year NBA veteran retired after the 1980-81 campaign. He became the first player in team history to have his number raised to the rafters shortly thereafter, and he later had separate stints as Washington's head coach and general manager. He ranks 12th on the Association's all-time list with 13,769 boards. Unseld died in June at the age of 74.
Come back on Sunday to see who came in at No. 6 in theScore's Top 25 Rookie Seasons series.
