10. LeBron James (24 years old) – 2008-2009 season
Specs : 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
A season where Lebron James truly made his mark as he won the NBA MVP title for the first time in his young career. King James that year single-handedly led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Eastern Finals, before being defeated by Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic 4-2.
During that year’s regular season, Lebron James was one of the most complete players in the tournament. Only 24 years old, he has averaged more than 28 points, along with more than 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block and nearly 2 steals per game. James’s Cavaliers are also the team with the best record in the entire NBA, winning 66 out of 82 matches, with the greatest credit certainly belonging to the player wearing shirt number 23 that year.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo (24 years old) – season 2018-2019
Specs : 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 5.9 APG , 1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG
The Greek demigod had one of the most impressive regular seasons in NBA history. He leads the tournament in efficiency index (PER) per match with 30.9 points. Under new coach Mike Budenholzer, Giannis Antetokounmpo made great strides and rose to become one of the best players in the world.
All of his parameters from points, rebounds, assists to finishing efficiency are superior compared to the previous season. Like Lebron James, Giannis also led the Milwaukee Bucks to end the regular season with the best record in the entire NBA, helping the Greek player become the second player in Deer Herd history to win MVP, after the legendary Kareem Abdul -Jabbar.
8. Bob Pettit (23 years old) – 1955-1956 season
Parameters : 25.7 PPG, 16.2 RPG, 2.6 APG
Legend Bob Pettit of St. Louis Hawks, the predecessor of today’s Atlanta Hawks, became the first player in NBA history to win the MVP title in the 1955-1956 season. This is the football season when the NBA organizers begin to introduce to the public the title for the best player in the regular season.
That season, Pettit also won the MVP title at the NBA All-Star game. Along with that, he led the league in scoring and rebounds, and ended the season being on the All-NBA First Team at the age of 23.
7. Bill Russell (23 years old) – 1957-1958 season
Parameters : 16.6 PPG, 22.7 RPG, 2.9 APG
“Lord of the Rings” Bill Russell won his first regular season NBA MVP title a few months after he turned 23. The Boston Celtics under Russell’s leadership have dominated the NBA with the best record in the league.
However, unfortunately, at the end of the season he only made the All-NBA Second Team, this was the first time Russell was voted into the All-NBA team, as well as his Boston Celtics losing to St. Bob Pettit’s Louis Hawks in the Grand Final.
6. Wilt Chamberlain (23 years old) – 1959-1960 season
Parameters : 37.6 PPG, 27.0 RPG, 2.3 APG
This was Wilt Chamberlain’s first season in the NBA and he immediately rose to superstardom and began to write a legend about himself as one of the greatest players in American basketball history.
The NBA icon of his time showed off all his best qualities from a very young age, as he did for most of his illustrious career. Chamberlain plays football unlike a normal rookie. He overwhelmed every opponent just by his presence on the field.
Wilt Chamberlain led the entire league in points (2707) and rebounds (1941), the most important stats for a player at that time. With his presence, the Philadelphia Warriors rose from the bottom team to second place in the East, behind only the Boston Celtics of their great rival Bill Russell.
