National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award, first given after the 1952-53 NBA season. The award is given to the top first-year player in the league.

• 1952-53 - Don Meineke, Fort Wayne Pistons
• 1953-54 - Ray Felix , Baltimore Bullets
• 1954-55 - Bob Pettit, Milwaukee Hawks
• 1955-56 - Maurice Stokes, Rochester Royals
• 1956-57 - Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics
• 1957-58 - Woody Sauldsberry , Philadelphia Warriors
• 1958-59 - Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers
• 1959-60 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors

• 1960-61 - Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals
• 1961-62 - Walt Bellamy, Chicago Packers
• 1962-63 - Terry Dischinger , Chicago Zephyrs
• 1963-64 - Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati Royals
• 1964-65 - Willis Reed, New York Knicks
• 1965-66 - Rick Barry, San Francisco Warriors
• 1966-67 - Dave Bing, Detroit Pistons
• 1967-68 - Earl Monroe, Baltimore Bullets
• 1968-69 - Wes Unseld, Baltimore Bullets
• 1969-70 - Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee Bucks

• 1970-71 - Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics (tie), Geoff Petrie , Portland Trail Blazers
• 1971-72 - Sidney Wicks , Portland Trail Blazers
• 1972-73 - Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Braves
• 1973-74 - Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo Braves
• 1974-75 - Keith Wilkes , Golden State Warriors
• 1975-76 - Alvan Adams , Phoenix Suns
• 1976-77 - Adrian Dantley , Buffalo Braves
• 1977-78 - Walter Davis , Phoenix Suns
• 1978-79 - Phil Ford , Kansas City Kings
• 1979-80 - Larry Bird, Boston Celtics

• 1980-81 - Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz
• 1981-82 - Buck Williams , New Jersey Nets
• 1982-83 - Terry Cummings , San Diego Clippers
• 1983-84 - Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets
• 1984-85 - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1985-86 - Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
• 1986-87 - Chuck Person , Indiana Pacers
• 1987-88 - Mark Jackson, New York Knicks
• 1988-89 - Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors
• 1989-90 - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs

• 1990-91 - Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets
• 1991-92 - Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets
• 1992-93 - Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic
• 1993-94 - Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors
• 1994-95 - Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons (tie), Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
• 1995-96 - Damon Stoudamire, Toronto Raptors
• 1996-97 - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
• 1997-98 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 1998-99 - Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
• 1999-00 - Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls (tie), Steve Francis, Houston Rockets

• 2000-01 - Mike Miller, Orlando Magic
• 2001-02 - Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
• 2002-03 - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
• 2003-04 - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers