Top 5 NBA players who won a championship in their rookie year

#3 Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (2002-03)

Manu Ginobili played a key role in San Antonio Spurs' 2003 title triumph

Despite being selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft, Manu Ginobili made his debut for the franchise in the 02-03 campaign. After finding it difficult to adjust to the NBA's pace and style in his early days in the league, Ginobili later became an integral part of the rotation in his rookie season.

Ginobili took up the sixth-man role for Gregg Popovich, registering 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists per contest, as the Spurs prevailed over the Brooklyn Nets and won the NBA Championship.

#2 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics (1956-57)

Bill Russell

One of the most decorated American athletes of all time, Bill Russell achieved the ultimate basketball success in his first season in the NBA, winning a ring with the Boston Celtics. Russell averaged 14 points and an astronomical 19.6 rebounds per game in his rookie year, apart from playing some stellar defense in the paint.

Russell won an absurd 11 titles in his 13-year-long career, carving out his legacy as the most successful basketball player of all time in terms of rings. Two of his eleven championships came as a player-coach, illustrating his importance to the franchise and the league.

#1 Magic Johnson, LA Lakers (1979-1980)

Magic Johnson won five titles with LA Lakers

Magic Johnson had a career littered with accolades and got off to the perfect start by winning a ring in his rookie year with the LA Lakers. Combined with fellow Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and the Lakers defeated the Julius Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

Johnson lit up the floor in game six, putting up 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists while playing at center in Abdul-Jabbar's absence. He played at guard, forward, and center during the game, later collecting the NBA Finals MVP award as well.

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson went on to win four more titles with the LA Lakers, etching his name amongst the best players in the history of the NBA.

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