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Famous African-American NBA rookies in history
Earl Lloyd was the primary black American to play in an official National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball game in October 1950. He debuted for the Washington Capitals and broke a barrier that allowed other notable African-American rookies to proceed making history in the game.
Magic Johnson: Revolutionizing the Point Guard Position
After leading his college team to the NCAA title in an exhilarating championship game, Magic Johnson was chosen by the Lakers as the primary overall pick. His debut season was in 1979-1980. While championship game this seasoncenter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured. The Lakers chosen rookie center Johnson, who had previously played point guard, and he scored 42 points to secure the victory and the championship.
Johnson led the Lakers to quite a few victories, he was All-Star 12 timesand was a part of the long-lasting Dream Team on the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Michael Jordan: The Beginning of a Legend
He was named Michael Jordan NBA Rookie of the Year for the 1984/85 season. A dominant player even in his rookie yr, Jordan said in the documentary that he knew the Bulls were his team of the long run and that he was its leader. He was also one among 45 players to turn into an All-Star in his rookie yr.
Jordan became a household name and helped the Chicago Bulls win quite a few championships. He He retired from the sport twicereturning to the court every time before ultimately retiring after two NBA seasons with the Wizards, greater than 15 years after his rookie season.
Shaquille O’Neal: Domination from day one
Shaq’s debut season in the NBA was in 1992-93, when he played for the Orlando Magic. Like Jordan, he was voted Rookie of the Year and played in the All-Star Game as a rookie. His influence on Magic was noticeable; his presence helped the team greater than twice the variety of games they won last season.
LeBron James: The Chosen One debuts
LeBron James was an NBA draft pick first overall pick in 2003and won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2003-2004 season. In his rookie yr, James scored 40 points and had twelve 30-point games, and the next yr his numbers were even higher. Like Jordan, James proved that perfection can exist beyond the primary few years of play; continues to attain results in his twenty first season NBA games.
Kobe Bryant: early promise and development
Kobe Bryant, who was drafted after highschool, was the youngest NBA rookie at 18 years old. Despite a difficult start in his debut yr in 1996-97, which included wrist and hip injuriesplaying many positions and requiring intensive learning for a young player, he still managed to win Slam Dunk Title in All-Stars. His constant development over the next seasons indicated that the promise he made earlier was not a coincidence. Bryant participated in multiple championship seasons, played in multiple All-Star games and won several MVP awards.
Other famous African-American debutants
Many other African-American players had good years as rookies and went on to turn into top NBA players. The list includes names corresponding to Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
An enduring legacy
Each of those players laid the inspiration for a legacy in their rookie yr, setting records and paving the way in which for others to attain future playing excellence.