NBA: Who are the rookies with the most points in history?

ByDavid Mitchell
NBA: Who are the rookies with the most points in history?

From Wilt Chamberlain to Michael Jordan and Cooper Flagg, find out which players stood out in their rookie seasons in the NBA.

Cooper Flaggthe first overall pick in the 2025 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, began the 2025-26 NBA season as the second-youngest player to be selected first overall in NBA Draft history, behind only LeBron James in 2003. In December 2025, Flagg scored the most points by an 18-year-old player in NBA history (42) against the Utah Jazz.

In April 2026, Flagg scored 51 points in a Mavericks loss to the Magic, becoming ninth rookie of all time (13th time) to score 50 or more points in a game. He is the youngest player of all time with 50 points in a game (19 years and 103 days).

How will it perform? flagg in the season? Discover the players who scored the most points in their first season in the NBA and the rookies with the most points scored in a single game:

Players with the most points in their rookie seasons

• Wilt Chamberlain, 2,707Philadelphia Warriors, 1959-1960

• Walt Bellamy, 2,495Chicago Packers, 1961-1962

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 2,361Milwaukee Bucks, 1969-1970

• Elvin Hayes, 2,327San Diego Rockets, 1968-1969

• Michael Jordan, 2,313Chicago Bulls, 1984-1985

• Oscar Robertson, 2,165Cincinnati Royals, 1960-1961

• Rick Barry, 2,059San Francisco Warriors, 1965-1966

• Geoff Petrie, 2,031Portland Trail Blazers, 1970-1971

• Sidney Wicks, 2009Portland Trail Blazers, 1971-1972

• David Robinson, 1993San Antonio Spurs, 1989-1990

Rookies with the most points scored in a single game

• 58 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in a 129-122 victory against the New York Knicks on February 21, 1960

• 58 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in 127-117 victory against the Detroit Pistons on January 25, 1960

• 57 – Rick Barry (San Francisco Warriors) in a 141-137 loss against the New York Knicks on December 14, 1965

• 56 – Earl Monroe (Baltimore Bullets) in a 119-116 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 13, 1968

• 55 – Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks) in a 129-125 victory against the Golden State Warriors on November 14, 2009

• 55 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in 124-116 victory against the Cincinnati Royals on November 12, 1959

• 55 – Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis Lakers) in 116-96 victory against the Cincinnati Royals on February 25, 1959

• 54 – Elvin Hayes (San Diego Rockets) in 122-120 victory against the Detroit Pistons on November 13, 1968

• 53 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in 126-108 victory against the Boston Celtics on February 23, 1960

• 52 – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors) in 126-111 victory against the Minneapolis Lakers on January 5, 1960

• 51 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks) in 140-127 victory against the Seattle SuperSonics on February 21, 1970

• 51 – Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks) in a 138-127 loss against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026

• 50 – Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers) in a 125-118 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12, 1997

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.