Every NBA Rookie of the Year award winner

Rookies in the NBA actually rarely are productive. Even LeBron James was far from great as a rookie, and future stars are often nailed to the bench. Still, winning Rookie of the Year in the NBA is often a first foray into a successful career. After all, even if rookies usually struggle, only rookies are eligible to win Rookie of the Year. Here is every winner of what is now called the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
We don’t know if Meineke has anything to do with the auto care company, but he is the first winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year award. This was the 1950s — 1953 was when he won, to be specific — and basketball was different. Meineke was picked in the second round, and was also picked No. 12 overall. He began his career for the Pistons… the Fort Wayne Pistons. Meineke was born in Dayton, went to college at Dayton, and in 2013, died in Dayton. In his first season he averaged 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game at a time when, you know, there weren’t all that many rookies. Meineke is the guy in the middle of the photo, in case you don’t recognize him on sight.

Felix was drafted first overall out of that venerated basketball institution Long Island University. He hit the ground running for the Baltimore Bullets, averaging 17.6 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. Felix made the All-Star Game as well, though that would be his only appearance. The Bullets were about to fold, so after his rookie season the center was dealt to the Knicks, where he had several good seasons before ending his career with the Lakers.