Every basketball player has one dream, and that is to play in the NBA. To get there, players have to excel throughout school and college as a youngster. But to put on an NBA jersey and play in front of thousands of people and play against and alongside players they have admired is unlike any experience they have ever had. The first game for the debutant is always filled with a lot of adrenaline and nerves, and we often see this having an effect on the player and sometimes their game will be cool or worse. However, this is not always the case, as some players made an impressive debut in the NBA and scored lots of points.
10 Players who made an Impressive Debut :
#10 Brandon Jennings
Jennings got off to a great start to his NBA career, and he came close to joining Oscar Robertson as the only player to record a triple double in his NBA debut. Jennings scored 17 points in his first game for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers, with nine rebounds and nine assists. “Doobie Doo” later smashed 55 points in his rookie year, but unfortunately, he never really peaked in this first campaign and progressed like many hoped he would.
#9 Oscar Robertson
Robertson started his NBA career by recording a triple double in his debut match against the Lakers. “Big O” scored 21 points with 10 assists and 12 rebounds for the win. This was a fantastic feat for a rookie, as he proved he was well-versed in every area of the game. Robertson continued his amazing performance in his second season and averaged a triple double. Robertson is the only player to record a triple double in his NBA debut. Although many players came close to it, no one could ever score the triple double.
#8 Michael Carter-Williams
Michael Carter-Williams had one of the best NBA debuts, as he flirted with a quadruple double in his very first game. It was a historic performance in 2013, as Williams had a statline of 22 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds, and 9 steals. He also sank two clutch free throws to secure the win over the Heat. His nine steals are the most by a player in their debut, and he also tied Allen Iverson for the franchise best record. Michael Carter-Williams has impressed and scored a few triple doubles, but in his first game, he almost achieved a rare quadruple double.
#7 David Robinson
Robinson is one of the greatest players to ever play the game and has racked up many amazing stats and records throughout his career. “The Admiral” showed signs of his incredible abilities right from the start in his NBA debut. He was the first pick in the 1987 draft but did not make his debut until 1989 due to military commitments. The wait was worth it, as he gave a stellar performance in his debut against the Lakers and scored 23 points with 17 rebounds.
#6 Damian Lillard
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Lillard emerged as one of the best guards in the NBA. He showed great potential during his rookie year, where he averaged 19 points per game, 6.5 APG, and 3.1 RPG, and became the Rookie of the Year. His incredible talent and skills to dominate the league were evident from his debut, when he scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists against the Lakers. This is a stat any point guard would be happy with, but doing it in his very first game is a remarkable feat.
#5 LeBron James
LeBron James’ NBA debut was highly anticipated, as he signed an $87 million deal with Nike before even entering the league. James made his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Kings and scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. “The L-Train” scored 12 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in the first 12 minutes of his game, hence making a statement about how incredible a player he is.
#4 Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is a player who inspired an entire generation of players, and his influence can still be felt today. He made his NBA debut against the Bucks and surprised the crowd by leading his team with 30 points with six assists. “Ivy” performed the first of hundreds of career highlights, making his presence known around the league with a one-handed dunk to stun the entire court.
#3 Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom had a tumultuous NBA career. He is a 2-time NBA champion, 6th Man of the Year, and part of the All-Rookie First Team for the 2000s, but he was also a player with off-court problems and a personality that many clashed with. He made his NBA debut with the LA Clippers in 1999 against the Sonics and scored an impressive 30 points. “The Candy Man” had lots of ups and downs, but he was instrumental in his career, and that was evident from his first game.
#2 Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas became one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and inspired dozens of modern guards with his strong play. Thomas made his NBA debut in 1981 against the Bucks and showed that he was ready to dominate the game. “Mr. Wonderful” scored 31 points and dished out 11 assists, the Pistons got the win thanks to his brilliant play. Thomas instantly became a Pistons hero, giving hope to a franchise that had only won 37 games in the previous two seasons.
#1 Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is a legendary NBA player and is certainly best known for scoring 100 points in a game. Even when Chamberlain was a rookie, he was a strong force and wreaked havoc on opponents trying to stop him. “The Big Dipper” made his NBA debut for the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959 and scored an amazing 43 points and grabbed 28 rebounds. Before this, he also had an impressive debut in college for Kansas where he scored 52 points and had 31 rebounds. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career that changed the game forever.
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