Rookie & Sophomore Seasons of the GOATS and Potential GOATS

[jalbert009]

There are many discussions about who the Top 10 GOATS are but their Rookie & Sophomore Seasons are rarely discussed. It is also interesting to see how the trajectory of the past Top 10 GOATs First 2 seasons compared to today's players with Top 10 GOAT potential.

Some interesting discussion would be who had the GOAT First 2 seasons in NBA history?

Why do the current best players first 2 seasons look really underwhelming compared to the players already considered the GOATS.

Other discussions are welcome.

Here are the usual suspects in the TOP 10

Michael Jordan

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 28.2pts/6.5rbs/5.9asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs - 29.3pts/5.8rbs/8.5asts

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 22.7pts/3.6rbs/2.9asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs - 43.7pts/6.3rbs/5.7asts

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – 2nd Team

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – First Round

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team & Sophomore year Slam Dunk Champion



Bill Russell

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 14.7pts/16.6rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs - 13.9pts/24.4rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season– 16.6pts/22.7rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs - 15.1pts/24.6rbs

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 2nd Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – NBA Champion

Sophomore year Playoffs –Finals

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – Rebound Leader in both Rookie and Sophomore Years; and Season MVP in Sophomore Year



Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 28.8pts / 14.5rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 35.2pts / 16.8rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 31.7pts / 16rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 26.6pts /17rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – 2nd Team

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Conference Finals

Sophomore year Playoffs – NBA Champion

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team; Scoring Champion, Season MVP and Finals MVP in Sophomore year




Lebron James

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season– 20.9pts /5.5rbs / 5.8asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 27.2pts / 7.4rbs / 7.2asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 2nd Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team



Magic Johnson

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 18pts / 7.7rbs / 7.3asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 18.3pts / 10.5rbs / 9.4asts

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 21.6pts / 8.6rbs / 8.6asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 17pts / 13.7rbs / 7asts

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – No

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – NBA Champion

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie Team & Finals MVP in Rookie Year



Wilt Chamberlain

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 37.6pts / 27rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 33.2pts / 25.8rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 38.4pts / 27.2rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 37pts / 23rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Conference Finals

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – Scoring & Rebound Leader in both Rookie and Sophomore Years, Season MVP in Rookie Year



Shaquille O’neal

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 23.4pts / 13.9rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 29.3pts / 13.2rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 20.7pts / 13.3rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 3rd Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years - NBA All Rookie First Team




Tim Duncan

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 21.1pts / 11.9rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 20.7pts / 9rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 21.7pts / 11.4rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 23.2pts / 11.5rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – No (Lock out Year No All Star Game)

Rookie Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Second Round

Sophomore year Playoffs – NBA Champion

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – All NBA Defensive Second Team Rookie Year, All NBA Rookie First Team, All NBA Defensive First Team Sophomore Year and NBA Finals MVP Sophomore Year



Larry Bird

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 21.3pts / 10.4rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 21.3pts / 11.2rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 21.2pts / 10.0rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 21.9pts / 14rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1st Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Conference Finals

Sophomore year Playoffs – NBA Champion

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie Team



Kobe Bryant

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 7.6pts / 1.9rbs / 1.3asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 8.2pts / 1.2rbs / 1.2asts

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 15.4pts / 3.1rbs / 2.5asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 8.7pts / 1.9rbs /1.5asts

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – Second Round

Sophomore year Playoffs – Conference Finals

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – All NBA Rookie Second Team



Hakeem Olajuwon

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 20.6pts / 11.9rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – 21.2pts / 13rbs

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 23.5pts / 11.5rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 26.9pts / 11.8rbs

Rookie Year All Star – Yes

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 2nd Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – First Round

Sophomore year Playoffs – NBA Finals

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – All NBA Defensive Second Team Rookie Year & NBA All Rookie First Team

[jalbert009]

Here are some names that have TOP 10 GOAT Potential


Luka Doncic

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 21.2pts / 7.8rbs / 6asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 28.8pts / 9.4rbs / 8.8asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 31pts / 9.8rbs / 8.7asts

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – 1nd Team

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team



Zion Williamson

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 22.5pts / 6.3rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 27pts / 7.2rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – Yes

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team



Kevin Durant

Rookie of the year – Yes

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 20.3pts / 4.4rbs / 2.4asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 25.3pts / 6.5rbs / 2.8asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – No

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team



Stephen Curry

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 17.5pts / 4.5rbs / 5.9asts

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 18.6pts / 3.9rbs / 5.8asts

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – No

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie First Team



Giannis Antetokounmpo

Rookie of the year – No

Rookie Year stats Regular Season – 6.8pts / 4.4rbs

Rookie Year stats Playoffs – N/A

Sophomore Year stats Regular Season – 12.7pts / 6.7rbs

Sophomore Year stats Playoffs – 11.5pts / 7rbs

Rookie Year All Star – No

Sophomore Year All Star – No

Rookie Year All NBA Team – No

Sophomore Year All NBA Team – No

Rookie Year Playoffs – Missed Playoffs

Sophomore year Playoffs – First Round

Other Accolades in First 2 Years – NBA All Rookie Second Team

[dankok8]

Kareem is probably the best rookie and sophomore in NBA history.

[jalbert009]

Kareem is probably the best rookie and sophomore in NBA history.

Agreed. It's almost like he peaked in his Sophomore season. No current player even comes close to what he has done in his first 2 years.

Most greats of today aren't even making all star teams let alone All NBA teams in their Rookie Seasons. And all of the current greats today are missing the playoffs in their first season. Some aren't even making it in their second season.

Lebron, KD, Steph, Zion all missed the playoffs in their first 2 seasons. At least Luka and Giannis made the playoffs in their Sophomore Seasons but they were still only first round exits.

[colts19]

Kareem is probably the best rookie and sophomore in NBA history.

Did you even look at Wilt's stats?

[dankok8]

Did you even look at Wilt's stats?

I did. Kareem improved his team upon arrival a whole lot more than Wilt did. Wilt literally didn't move the needle on offense despite his volume scoring.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

kawhi led spurs in minutes during the finals and was a ray allen shot away from beating prime Lebron\Wade\Bosh. Also led spurs in VORP that year during playoffs.

[MrFonzworth]

kawhi led spurs in minutes during the finals and was a ray allen shot away from beating prime Lebron\Wade\Bosh. Also led spurs in VORP that year during playoffs.

:roll::roll::roll:

[HBK_Kliq_2]

:roll::roll::roll:

Best player in the finals is 100% always leading the team in minutes unless the coach is a moron. Pop is obviously not a moron.

[MrFonzworth]

Best player in the finals is 100% always leading the team in minutes unless the coach is a moron. Pop is obviously not a moron.

Sure guy.

[SouBeachTalents]

kawhi led spurs in minutes during the finals and was a ray allen shot away from beating prime Lebron\Wade\Bosh. Also led spurs in VORP that year during playoffs.
If Kawhi makes his FT's Ray wouldn't even be in the position to tie the game

[iamgine]

Would be easier to read in this format:

Stephen Curry (Rookie - Sophomore)

ROY: No
Stats Reg: 17.5pts / 4.5rbs / 5.9asts - 18.6pts / 3.9rbs / 5.8asts
Stats Playoff: N/A - N/A
All Star: No - No
All NBA: No - No
Playoff: Missed - Missed
Other accolades: All Rookie 1st team

[TheGoatest]

If Kawhi makes his FT's Ray wouldn't even be in the position to tie the game

Kawhi's FT brickage in the 2012 finals is just one of his many career playoff choke jobs:

2015 playoffs: Had a 3-2 lead in the first round against the Clippers, averaged 12.5 points on .286 shooting in games 6 and 7 and lost the series. The Clippers lost in round two.
2016 playoffs: His 67 win Spurs lost to the 55 win Thunder. He was outplayed by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the opposing team and LaMarcus Aldridge on his own team.
2020 playoffs: Needs no introduction. Will forever be known as "The Choke™".

Possibly the biggest playoff choker ever, but gets away with it because of his bullshit personality, or more precisely his lack of one.