A big reason why many NBA observers are so interested in the draft and rookie performances is to get a glimpse of the future.
But sometimes, teams can’t wait for the future. They need a star rookie to step up now.
To wit, legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell made immediate impacts on their teams — not just in the regular season, but more importantly in the playoffs.
With all that in mind, Rookie Wire commemorates NBA postseason records set by first-year players below.
[Sources: 2021 NBA playoff media guide, statmuse.com]
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