Top 25 rookie seasons in NBA history: No. 21 Bob Pettit

The greatest rookie seasons in NBA history share a number of qualities, starting with individual statistical dominance. However, you can't overlook the context beyond the box score.

While we wait for the 2019-20 season to resume, theScore's NBA editors dusted off the record books to determine the top 25 rookie seasons in league history.

No. 21 in our series is former Milwaukee Hawks big man Bob Pettit. Catch up on previous posts in the series here.

Before the Association

Debuting as a sophomore at LSU in 1951, the 6-foot-9 center quickly established himself as one of the top talents in college basketball.

The Baton Rouge-born big man led the SEC in scoring in each of his three seasons, peaking with 31.4 points and 17.3 rebounds per game as a senior in 1953-54.

Draft day

Despite his accolades, Pettit wasn't considered a sure thing coming out of school. Skeptics cited his 200-pound frame - he was too lean, they said - as a reason his durability could be an issue in the bruising NBA.

With their first overall pick, the Baltimore Bullets selected Furman wing Frank Selvy, who led the nation with 41.7 points per game. The Hawks nabbed Pettit at No. 2.

Ironically, the Bullets folded 14 games into the season, and Selvy ended up as Pettit's Hawks teammate after a dispersal draft.

Individual success

With 6-foot-11, 235-pound center Chuck Share on the roster, the Hawks shifted Pettit down a position to power forward. Though forced to embrace more of a face-up style, Pettit's relatively strong acumen on mid-range looks made him a natural at his new position.

In 72 appearances as a rookie, Pettit averaged 20.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He shot 40.7% from the floor, good enough to match Share's mark for the team high. Pettit ranked third in the NBA in rebounds per game and fourth in points.

Pettit was named an All-Star, the Rookie of the Year, and was selected to the All-NBA first team alongside established superstars Bob Cousy and Dolph Schayes.

Team success

The Hawks got off to an ugly 5-20 start but rallied to finish the year on a more palatable 21-26 run, including an 11-game stretch prior to the All-Star Game where they went 8-3. Still, that added up to a league-worst 26-46 record.

Following the 1955 draft, the team relocated to St. Louis, where they remained until moving to Atlanta in 1968 - three years after Pettit's retirement. That year also marked basketball's return to Milwaukee with the advent of the Bucks.

Enduring legacy

Pettit made the jump from Rookie of the Year to league MVP in only his second pro season, putting to rest any pre-draft concern about his relative lack of size. He made both the All-Star and All-NBA teams in each of his 11 seasons.

Pettit won an NBA title in 1958 and stands as the greatest player in franchise history - a distinction that's complicated by the reality he never played in Atlanta and the fact there hasn't been an NBA team in St. Louis for over 50 years.

Come back Thursday to see who came in at No. 20 in theScore's Top 25 Rookie Seasons series.