Inventory: The top ten most popular rookies in NBA draft history, James ranked first, and Flagg is on the list

Cooper Flag is known as one of the greatest rookies in NBA history, but how does he compare to the greatest rookies in history?

Cooper Flagg was highly expected for his rookie season at Duke. The highest-ranked rookie in Maine history lived up to expectations, leading the Blue Devils to the final four and becoming the fourth freshman to win the Associated Press Men's Basketball Player of the Year title. Flagg will be selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which is a foregone conclusion, and people have also generally believed that he will be selected as the No. 1 pick in the years. Some people even talk about the striker and are willing to be named "a generation of rookies." So, among the most anticipated draft rookies in NBA history, which one is Flag?

1. LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School – 2003

LeBron James has long received close attention from the media and fans, which can be traced back long before he entered the NBA. At St. Vincent St. Mary High School, James was not only the best high school rookie in history, but there were so high expectations for the kid from Akron, Ohio that he was considered the greatest draft rookie in NBA history.

James is known as the "Son of Chosen" for his professional player-like physique and amazing athleticism. While there is still controversy over who James and Michael Jordan are the greatest players in NBA history, James is undoubtedly regarded as the heir to the "Flying Man". After winning three state titles and making it to the cover of Sports Illustrated, James chose to stay in his hometown after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When high school players are allowed to participate in the NBA draft, it is often harder to predict their performance in professional arena than to predict college players. Even so, James shouldered great expectations and he really lived up to expectations. James has now tied the longest career in NBA history (22 seasons), and has won 21 All-Star Game selections, 4 NBA Finals MVPs and 4 MVPs.

2. Lou Alcindo, UCLA – 1969

UCLA basketball team was arguably the greatest dynasty in sports history in the 1960s and 1970s. Lou Alcindor is a star player on the team, winning three consecutive championships in his three-year college career. This career can be said to be the most glorious college basketball career in history.

Alcindor's Sky Gate is unstoppable on the offensive end, and on the defensive end, he can shoot countless shots at the opponent. This made him the greatest rookie in NBA history in 1969. Although becoming the No. 1 pick is inevitable, it is unclear which team he will eventually join, because the No. 1 pick is decided by coin tossing between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks eventually won the coin toss and selected the center who later renamed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Jabbar's path to victory continued to the professional arena, and he eventually became the greatest center in history. Jabbar won six championships and won the league's Most Valuable Player title six times. The scouts are very optimistic about these two best rookies in history.

3. Victor Vinbanyama, France - 2023

Victor Vinbanyama looks like a character in a video game, which is why, long ago, he was hailed as the most promising player after James, even though he hadn't even played in the United States - even surpassing the second place on the list. The French player is 7 feet 4 inches (about 2.13 meters), but his skills are comparable to those of a defender.

Wenban Yama has amazing ball-handling ability and can hit a step back jump shot that is far beyond the three-point line. The San Antonio Spurs selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2023, which continued a series of dominant big players selected by the team with the No. 1 pick. Of course, David Robinson and Tim Duncan are also the other two No. 1 picks for the team.

Just like the top Spurs centers, Vinban Yama looks like a historical superstar. Wenban Yama was selected for the NBA All-Star Game the following year and before the season was suspended due to a blood clot, he was still far from the goal of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Even after ending his sophomore season early, Vinban Yama still led the NBA with 176 blocks. Wenban Yama is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA and has a bright future.

4. Zion Williamson, Duke University – 2019

Zion Williamson is the first player on this list to fail to meet expectations at a professional level. Williamson became an internet celebrity with his rapid performance in high school, and played arguably the best freshman season in history while playing for Duke, establishing himself as the No. 1 pick.

While college, Williamson challenged the laws of gravity and physics, improving his shooting percentage of 20.10 per minute to the best single-season record in college basketball history to date. His unparalleled athletic talent makes him known as the best potential rookie after James. Williamson performed very well during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, and his career average of 24.7 points is proof of this.

However, Williamson's playing time has been limited due to injuries. The former college player of the year has only played 214 of 482 NBA games since being selected for the No. 1 pick. Physical fitness and weight management issues also caused him to wear casual clothes for a long time. Williamson has time to turn things around and realize his full potential. After all, he has played a lot of exciting data on the field. However, he is currently on a dangerous road to the peak.

5. Wilt Chamberlain, University of Kansas – 1959

Wilt Chamberlain has always had incredible height and unrealistic figures, which dates back to his entry into the NBA. Chamberlain is 7 feet 1 inch (about 2.13 meters) tall, and after graduating from high school, more than 200 universities recruit him. Eventually, he chose the University of Kansas. At that time, freshmen were not allowed to participate in the school team competition, but Chamberlain averaged around 30 points and had nearly 20 rebounds in the next two seasons.

Chamberlain skipped his senior year but was not eligible for the NBA draft yet. He chose to play for Harlem basketball. "Bid Dipper" has become a legend even before he even went to college. Chamberlain won the championship at Overbrook High School and played professionally as a teenager under the pseudonym of George Marcus.

Chamberlain is full of legend. After being finally selected as the No. 1 pick in 1959, he broke almost all personal records, many of which have not been broken to this day. Most notably, Chamberlain's 100-point single game is considered the most unbreakable record of any sports.

6. Ralph Sampson, University of Virginia – In the early 1980s, the center position dominated basketball. The Houston Rockets selected two great big players with the No. 1 pick. The first was Ralph Sampson in 1983, and the second was Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. The former is 7 feet 4 inches tall and plays for the University of Virginia and is an inside power player.

Sampson surpassed his time, not only was he a rim protection maniac during college (462 career blocks), but he also had a good shot. Sampson scored 2,228 points in his four-year career and became the fourth and last player to be awarded the National Player of the Year three times.

The University of Virginia player started the professional league with averaging up to 21 points in his first season. However, Sampson’s Rookie of the Year season was just one of the most brilliant seasons of his career as injuries shortened his peak and his entire career. Sampson was selected for the All-Star Game for the first four seasons of his career and led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1986. However, after four years of playing for the Houston Rockets and undergoing many changes, Sampson played for three different teams before retiring in 1992, gradually losing the brilliance of a star player.

7. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown University – Another center rookie considered a generation in the 1980s was Patrick Ewing. In 1985, the NBA no longer used the coin to toss, but chose the lottery draw, which led to the New York Knicks picking the center who eventually became the best player in the team's history.

Before this, Ewing ruled the paint area on the Georgetown University team. The 1985 college player of the year dominated both sides of the court. Georgetown team made it to the March Crazy Finals three times in four years, and under his leadership, even winning all the titles in his junior year.

Although Ewing was selected as the All-Star in the NBA 11 times, he failed to win the championship in the professional arena. The draft was sandwiched between Sampson and Ewing in the 1984 class, one of the best drafts in NBA history. Olajuwon was selected as the No. 1 pick that year, and he was also an excellent big rookie. Michael Jordan was also selected with the Title Flower Sign. At that time, the team was hesitant in the draft pick and was unwilling to choose a defender rather than a center in the high pick.

8. Anthony Davis, University of Kentucky - 2012

Anthony Davis was not as early as some of the other basketball players on this list, as he did not usher in an explosive growth period until his high school years. However, after spending his only season at Kentucky, Davis is considered one of the most secure draft picks in recent years.

Davis did everything at the University of Kentucky. He averaged 14.2 points per game, but he showed stronger scoring ability when the team needed it. The Wildcats have a strong lineup and Davis doesn't need to score too much. What really stands out, however, is his protection of the basket. As a freshman, Davis averaged 4.7 blocks per game. That season, he completed a total of 186 blocks, ranking among the top five blocks in a single season in college basketball history, and is also the holder of the block record for freshman blocks.

Davis was awarded the College Player of the Year, the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and led the Wildcats to the National Championship. At the professional level, Davis has been one of the best players in the NBA since he was selected for the No. 2 pick in 2012. Despite recent injuries, he is still 10 times selected as the All-Star. Some even believe that Davis is the best player on the team, not James, when the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Finals championship in 2020.

9. Magic Johnson, Michigan State University – 1979

Magic Johnson was one of the most assisted players in college basketball history during his time at Michigan State University. However, Johnson is 6-foot-9 (about 1.93 meters), which is unprecedented in pre-match point guards. Johnson is a true revolutionary in basketball, and he was the No. 1 pick in 1979. Johnson had excellent football skills and announced his NBA draft after playing two seasons in college, although this was rare at the time.

If it weren't for his nemesis, Larry Bird, who was selected the previous year, Johnson might have faced some competition in the 1979 No. 1 pick. Although Bird returned to Indiana State in the 1978-79 season, he was selected by the Boston Celtics in 1978. In any case, they are the most popular NBA draft rookies in history, and they all have the most glorious careers in NBA history, living up to expectations.

Johnson can be said to be the best point guard in NBA history. He led the "Showtime" Lakers to win the championship five times and won the MVP three times. Johnson's size and unique skills have changed the definition of a point guard, but his cheerful personality and competition with Bird are the keys to really change the direction of a better basketball game.

10. Cooper Flager, Duke University – 2025

Duke University has emerged with many outstanding basketball players, including white players. Cooper Flager is one of the best players in Duke’s history, regardless of background. He was so good at Duke that he got rid of the label of “villain” as senior players like Grayson Allen, JJ Redick and Christian Letterner.

Flegg played one of the best rookie seasons in the team's history in the past college basketball season. The all-round forward leads the team in scoring (19.2 points), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), blocks (1.4) and steals (1.4). The Player of the Year is a strong contender for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The only question is which team will win the No. 1 pick? The NBA draft draw will be held on Monday, May 12. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets are most likely to win the No. 1 pick.