As of now, Blake Griffin has 21 points, as many as Lebron did in his rookie season. So I wonder who was the highest scoring rookie?
He has a ways to go... Wilt Chamberlain - 37.6 Blake doesn't even make the top 20. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_top_rookie_scoring_averages
The fact that Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 as a rookie in the modern era is astonishing. I wish I had been born in the 70's so I would have been fully aware of his career. Didn't start watching the NBA until '92, as a 10 year old.
In the even more modern era, Iverson had 23 as a rookie, including a 50 point game and a five game streak of 40 point nights (and it was absolutely done just to show he could do it). And that was still pre-handcheck rules. No one could stay in front of him. He was the nastiest rookie I had ever seen. Blake Griffin is having a great make up year, glad for him. Hope they lose Baron Deadbeat and get him some professional ballplayers soon.
I wonder if in Chamberlain's days players just stood around to see him score? That's just phenomenal, even Jordan's best season is a little less than Chamberlain's 37.6
Not to take away from Wilt but I'm sure the players were a lot different than they were when Jordan was playing.
I don't think that takes anything away from Wilt because it works two ways. Wilt also didn't have access to a lot of the training and nutrition advancements that MJ had access to.
True but I still think that if you were to put someone like Olajuwon in Wilt's era then he would be considered the greatest ever. :grin:
Griffin is still legit regardless of his scoring avg. unlike Tyreke who was also compared to lebron b/c of his rookie numbers.
Its not just the scoring it is the explosiveness he has. He rebounds very well. The only guys I would take right now above him going forward are lebron, durant, drose, dhoward, cpaul When jordan averaged 28 the avg team score 111 points so it not quite as impressive.
I'd only take LeBron over him, and even that would take some thought. The only negative about Griffin is his potential for long-term injury. Not only is he extremely athletic and talented, but he's a very smart, poised player.
