5 rookies with the most points per game in a season

Rookies sometimes are held to a great standard based on the reputation that they come into the league with. The transition from college basketball to the NBA is never easy and the grueling process of playing 82 games can take a toll on the mental and physical health of the youngsters.

The NBA teams draft these players from college with high hopes and sometimes these talents are evident right from the get-go. But sometimes they are not. The fate of franchises sometimes lies in the performances of these rookies and they can end up being completely overwhelmed.

The likes of LeBron James, Michael Jordan lit up the league immediately and let everyone know why they were so hyped up. That being said, we look at the five rookies with the most points per game in a season.

#5 Elvin Hayes - 28.4 ppg (1968-69)

The first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the San Diego Rockets, who are now known as Houston Rockets, was Elvin Hayes who averaged 28.4 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting nearly 45% from the field. He was selected for the NBA All-Star, All-Rookie First Team and was the top scorer during the season.

The forward clocked over 45 minutes per game during his rookie season and was already one of the best players in the league. His best performance of the season came against the Detroit Pistons where he dropped 54 points and grabbed 22 rebounds. He also recorded 45 points and 18 rebounds against Seattle SuperSonics.

The franchise finished with a 37-45 record and had a pretty decent season as they reached the Western Conference Semifinals and only lost to the Atlanta Hawks in six games.

#4 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 28.8 ppg (1969-70)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar represented the Milwaukee Bucks for five seasons

With the first overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks picked Lewis Alcindor, who later became to be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The center averaged 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 52% from the field.

Abdul-Jabbar won the Rookie of the Year Award for his exploits with the Bucks. The franchise finished the season with a loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games. One of his best performances of the campaign came against the Seattle SuperSonics where he dropped 51 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 3 assists while shooting 72% from the field.

Kareem would eventually move on to the Los Angeles Lakers and break numerous NBA records along the way. He won an NBA Championship with the Bucks in 1971.

#3 Oscar Robertson - 30.5 ppg (1960-61)

Nicknamed the "Big O", Oscar Robertson was the territorial pick in the 1960 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, who are now known as the Sacramento Kings. The guard immediately lit up the league as he averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists while shooting over 47% from the field.

However, the Royals did not have a great season as they finished with a 33-46 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Robertson won the Rookie of the Year Award and averaged a near triple-double for the season. He also won the MVP for the All-Star Game and was also selected for the All-NBA First Team.

One of his best performances of the season came in a loss against the Los Angeles Lakers where he dropped 45 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 8 assists.

#2 Walt Bellamy - 31.6 ppg (1961-62)

Walt Bellamy recorded over 20,000 points in the NBA

Walt Bellamy was picked as the number one overall pick during the 1961 NBA Draft. He was picked by the Chicago Packers, who were later called the Washington Wizards. Bellamy averaged 31.6 points, 19 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting nearly 52% from the field.

The Chicago Packers had a horrendous season as they finished with an 18-62 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs despite the exploits of Bellamy. His best performance of the season came against the Los Angeles Lakers where he dropped 48 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Another highlight of the season was his performance against the Boston Celtics where he finished with 47 points and 20 rebounds.

During his first season in the NBA, Bellamy led the league in field goal percentage and also recorded a 23-point and 17-rebound game in the NBA All-Star Game.

#1 Wilt Chamberlain - 37.6 ppg (1959-60)

Wilt Chamberlain ended his career with the Los Angeles Lakers

Recording the best season by a rookie, Wilt Chamberlain was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors with the territorial pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. The center averaged 37.6 points, 27 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting over 46% from the field in his first season.

The Warriors had a terrific season with Chamberlain leading the way. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals and only lost to the Boston Celtics led by Bill Russell in six games. In Game 5 of the series against the Celtics, Wilt recorded one of his best performances for the season when he dropped 50 points and grabbed 35 rebounds in a victory against the Boston-based side.

He finished his first season in the NBA with the Rookie of the Year Award, All-Star Game MVP and the regular season MVP. The center also led the league in scoring and rebounding.