Just call this the OJ Mayo thread

reke average 20 5 5 his rookie season along with mj, bron and big o to ave those in their rookie seasons and then injuries ruined it. Though last season was his most efficient one

Not only did MCW peak as a rookie, he peaked in his very first game. I don’t even understand how that’s possible

 Good thread — I was looking at this a year or so back.  

  Christian Laettner. stats wise put up best numbers as a rookie

Landry Fields – remember spike used to sit in the front row and wear his jersey.  He then got a nice pay day from Toronto, haven’t seen or heard about him for a while.

Jahil okafor averaged 17.5 as a rookie, now struggling for playing time.

Jon Koncak

 Langston Galloway, Kyle Singler, Jonas Jerebko, Rudy Fernandez, Jamario Moon, 

Who remembers the early 90’s UCLA team with Ed Obannon and Tyus Edney.

Tyus Edney actually won all rook second team and averaged double digits as a rook – didn’t last long in the league….

From the same era Eric Montross was always bit of a stiff taken 9th overall

Travis Mays 14th pick from the 90 draft

Willie Anderson – I remember reading an article comparing him head to head with Reggie Miller. One went up and one went down from there…

Interesting debate and I‘d like to throw in some names as well. Evans and Mayo are the most recent names and Bennett should not be named here as he never really peaked at all. 

Adam Morrison was also far from making noise in the NBA but at least he scored in double digits in his rookie season but it only went worse from there. 

Damon Stoudamire was Rookie of the year and had 19 ppg and 9apg that year. He scored 20 the year after but never the 9 apg again. While he had a good career, he never got a complete season like his rookie year.

Wes Unseld arguably had one of the strongest rookie seasons ever and if someone had that, it’s tough to live up to that even if he was named a top 50 player all time after he finished his career. His play made the Bullets go from last place the year prior to first place in his rookie season, but Unseld also was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award, an All-Star appearance, a spot on the All-NBA First Team while adding the league’s MVP Award for good measure – something only he and Wilt Chamberlain did as rookies! 

Keith van Horn not really peaked as a rookie but he played 37mpg as a rookie and his only season better than his rookie season was his 2nd season so he at least peaked very very early.

Not on same level of those guys but Rodrigue Beaubois looked like a potential stud in his rookie year, 1st rookie to have shooting numbers of 50 40 80, scoring 40 points against Curry and doing well against the Spurs etc.

Afterwords he struggled with injuries and lost confidence that costed him his shot and was out of the league after his rookie deal.
Once an explosive quick athletic with 40% 3PT shot to go with his huge wingspan, to a 30% and below 3PT who is slow PG. was tough to see as Mavs fan

From what I’ve gathered he has been doing well in past few years overseas and got many ofers to come back to the NBA (Lakers and Mavs both rumored to want him in 2017 IIRC) but he decided to stay there

 Johnny Flynn also sprang to mind. Averaged 13.5ppg in his rookie year starting 81 games. Only started another 9 games in his NBA career and averaged around 5ppg in that time.

Marquis Daniels had that big playoff series his rookie year, then he kind of plateaued after that.

Arvydas Sabonis: his rookie NBA at age 31 season was his most efficient season. He averaged 9 more mins in 3rd season but only 1.5 more points. Clearly this is an unusual case but I think this deserves a mention. 

 Walt Williams had a magical rookie season for the Kings then magically went down hill after that.  He was really fun to watch.  

 Have to agree with Brandon Jennings (dropping 55 in his 7th game), Richard Dumas, and could make an argument for  Grant Hill. 

Austin Crochere? Was he a rookie when he went mad in the finals for Indiana? Billy Owens? 

 I remember Raef LaFrentz rookie season in Denver being very solid, averaging something like 14 & 8 and I thought he would end up a multiple all star. From what I can recall he didn’t do much more than that any other year.

More recently I think you will be able to add Malcolm Brogden to this list in a few years 

 I can’t really think of anyone who Peaked as a Rookie as dramatically as those listed about — but 2 recent top 7 Lottery picks who are Freak athletes & seemed to be built not so much to be NBA stars but Def long time NBA Starters & good ones at that who both have Really flat lined since their 1st or 2nd year are:

Nerlens Noel & Emmanuel Mudiay:

Noel looked like the perfect modern NBA Center, outstanding defensive instincts, crazy good Rim protection & genetically engineered to be a Lob man for the NBA pick & roll offense. 

And Mudiay had he not gone to China instead of SMU many scouts & draft experts believe would have challenged for the #2 pick right behind Karl Anthony Towns. Lack of shooting was always an issue but at 6’5” 200+ Lbs w/ crazy athleticism, size, maturity & leadership ability Emmanuel Mudiay looked like a can’t miss starting NBA point guard. 

I don’t know that either man was projected to be a Star, but both looked like can’t miss Long term NBA Starters & now both are basically Journey-men reserves on non playoff teams 

But I Luv the answers above – brought back memories! The L Train Lionel Simmons out of West Phila by way of LaSalle University is a Great call – Fantastic Div 1 College player – an absolute Baller! & really good Pro as a Rookie who was limited by Chronic injuries 

Tyreke Evans & O.J. Mayo both looked like can’t misses when they were drafted Top 5 in 2008 & 2009 Ahead of both Steph Curry & Russ Westbrook incredibly enough 

 If you go by a few stats (but not all) such as rebounds and blocked shots, second best free throw percentage, and tied for most games in a season played (81), along with a great blend of size, athleticism, AND speed then what about Shaq?

 Joe Smith averaged 15.3 ppg and 8 rpg followed up by 18 and 8 his second year but after that, he became nothing more than Average Joe.