We cover all you need to know about the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award, including the past winners, when the award is announced and more.
The NBA Rookie of the Year is awarded annually to a first-year player that shined above his rookie peers.
Who won 2024/25 NBA Rookie of the Year?
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle won the 2024/25 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.9 steals on 42.8 FG% in his rookie season. The UConn product led all rookies in total points and steals.
Castle earned 92 of a possible 100 first-place votes, coming in ahead of Zaccharie Risacher, Jaylen Wells, Alex Sarr, Zach Edey and Kel'el Ware.
NBA Rookie of the Year Winners by Year
Year | Name | Team |
2025 | Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs |
2024 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs |
2023 | Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic |
2022 | Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors |
2021 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets |
2020 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies |
2019 | Luka Dončić | Dallas Mavericks |
2018 | Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers |
2017 | Malcolm Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks |
2016 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2015 | Andrew Wiggins | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2014 | Michael Carter-Williams | Philadelphia 76ers |
2013 | Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers |
2012 | Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2011 | Blake Griffin | Los Angeles Clippers |
2010 | Tyreke Evans | Sacramento Kings |
2009 | Derrick Rose | Chicago Bulls |
2008 | Kevin Durant | Seattle SuperSonics |
2007 | Brandon Roy | Portland Trail Blazers |
2006 | Chris Paul | New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets |
2005 | Emeka Okafor | Charlotte Bobcats |
2004 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2003 | Amar'e Stoudemire | Phoenix Suns |
2002 | Pau Gasol | Memphis Grizzlies |
2001 | Mike Miller | Orlando Magic |
2000 | Steve Francis, Elton Brand | Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls |
1999 | Vince Carter | Toronto Raptors |
1998 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
1997 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers |
1996 | Damon Stoudamire | Toronto Raptors |
1995 | Jason Kidd, Grant Hill | Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons |
1994 | Chris Webber | Golden State Warriors |
1993 | Shaquille O'Neal | Orlando Magic |
1992 | Larry Johnson | Charlotte Hornets |
1991 | Derrick Coleman | New Jersey Nets |
1990 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs |
1989 | Mitch Richmond | Golden State Warriors |
1988 | Mark Jackson | New York Knicks |
1987 | Chuck Person | Indiana Pacers |
1986 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks |
1985 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
1984 | Ralph Sampson | Houston Rockets |
1983 | Terry Cummings | San Diego Clippers |
1982 | Buck Williams | New Jersey Nets |
1981 | Adrian Dantley | Utah Jazz |
1980 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
1979 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
1978 | Walter Davis | Phoenix Suns |
1977 | Adrian Dantley | Indiana Pacers |
1976 | Alvan Adams | Phoenix Suns |
1975 | Darryl Dawkins | Philadelphia 76ers |
1974 | Ernie DiGregorio | Buffalo Braves |
1973 | Bob McAdoo | Buffalo Braves |
1972 | Sidney Wicks | Portland Trail Blazers |
1971 | Geoff Petrie | Portland Trail Blazers |
1970 | Lew Alcindor | Milwaukee Bucks |
1969 | Wes Unseld | Baltimore Bullets |
1968 | Walt Bellamy | New York Knicks |
1967 | Rick Barry | San Francisco Warriors |
1966 | Cazzie Russell | New York Knicks |
1965 | Willis Reed | New York Knicks |
1964 | Jerry Lucas | Cincinnati Royals |
1963 | Terry Dischinger | Chicago Zephyrs/Baltimore Bullets |
1962 | Walt Bellamy | Chicago Packers |
1961 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals |
1960 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors |
1959 | Elgin Baylor | Minneapolis Lakers |
1958 | Woody Sauldsberry | Philadelphia Warriors |
1957 | Tom Heinsohn | Boston Celtics |
1956 | Maurice Stokes | Rochester Royals |
1955 | Bob Pettit | Milwaukee Hawks |
1954 | Ray Felix | Baltimore Bullets |
1953 | Don Meineke | Fort Wayne Pistons |
NBA Rookie of the Year announcement
The winner of the 2025/26 edition of the NBA Rookie of the Year Award will be announced in late April or early May, 2026.
NBA Rookie of the Year voting
A panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters votes for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Voters select one first-place player, one second-place player and one third-place player.
Players receive five points per first-place vote, three points per second-place vote, and one point per third-place vote. Whoever receives the most points wins the award.
NBA Rookie of the Year trophy
Winners of the NBA Rookie of the Year award used to be given the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, named for the former Philadelphia Warriors coach.
However, the league established the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy for the award winner before the 2022/23 season.
Chamberlain won the award in 1959/60 with the Warriors, averaging 37.6 points, 27 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 46.4 minutes per game over 72 games.
