You’ll never forget the first bucket of your NBA career. MarJon Beauchamp earns his welcome to the league moment against the Houston Rockets, bringing the ball up the court, driving into the lane and converting a left-handed layup. The Milwaukee Bucks rookie guard and 24th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft needed just two minutes of game time to record his first points and walked away with a 125-105 Bucks victory on October 22, 2022.

MarJon Beauchamp

MarJon Beauchamp attacks the paint for layup in first NBA contest

Players selected in the second round of the NBA Draft understand that they need to do more than just score points to earn a role in a rotation. Caleb Houstan received the message. The 32nd overall pick by the Orlando Magic proves instantly that he’s not afraid to defend and do the dirty work, sticking to Bojan Bogdanović like glue on a drive to the rim before rejecting the Detroit Pistons forward’s layup attempt. Houston additionally grabbed three boards in the October 19, 2022 contest.

Caleb Houstan

Caleb Houstan comes up on defense with block in first NBA matchup

Homegrown buckets hit different. In his NBA regular season debut, Chicago Bulls rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu goes on a tear for not one but two transition layups. The Chicago native and University of Illinois star wasted no time making an impact on October 20, 2021.

Ayo Dosunmu

Ayo Dosunmu racks up consecutive buckets in first NBA contest

Some rookies are just fearless from the jump. In his first regular season game with the Indiana Pacers, Chris Duarte attempts to lose his defender with a sidestep and a pump fake. With his man still on him and seconds left on the clock, Duarte pulls up for a jumper and beats the buzzer to nail a three, capping off an 11 point quarter. He shined in his debut with 27 points and five rebounds on October 20, 2021.

Chris Duarte

Chris Duarte makes a statement with 10-point first quarter in NBA debut

Getting drafted to Ja Morant’s squad has all kinds of benefits. Eyeing up an opportunity to hit his superstar teammate for a bucket, David Roddy whips a one-handed cross-court pass to Morant, who finishes the possession by knocking down a three-pointer. The Memphis Grizzlies rookie picked up two rebounds and an assist in his 13 minutes of professional action, a 115-112 overtime win over the New York Knicks on October 19, 2022.

David Roddy

David Roddy laces crosscourt dime in first NBA contest

Being the first rookie in 25 years to register four games with at least seven blocks was just one of the accolades that landed Walker Kessler on the First Team All-Rookie squad. The Utah Jazz center led all rookies in blocks and his 2.3 per game average ranked fourth in the NBA despite playing just 23 minutes per contest. Kessler was Utah’s top-rated individual defensive player, and the 22nd overall pick also averaged 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds on an eye-popping 72 percent shooting across 74 games. In his 40 starts, Kessler’s numbers jumped to 11.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game while being named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in February. He ultimately finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and became the 11th player in franchise history to earn First Team All-Rookie honors. The 7-footer logged 20 double-doubles, including a 20-point, 21-rebound effort on January 16 and added a season-high 31 points with 11 rebounds on March 25 to become the first Jazz rookie to ever post a 30-10 game. Kessler also became the third player in franchise history to block six shots and make a 3-pointer in the same game. 

Walker Kessler

Walker Kessler remix celebrates 2022-23 All-Rookie season

You’ll never forget your first field goal in the NBA, so go ahead and make it as memorable as possible. Second-round draft pick Christian Koloko immediately showcases his hustle and court awareness for the Toronto Raptors, dutifully tracking teammate Pascal Siakam’s path to the basket and throwing down a monstrous putback dunk when the shot rims out. Koloko scored three points while adding six rebounds and a block in 15 energetic minutes off the bench in Toronto’s 108-105 opening-night win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2022.

Christian Koloko

Christian Koloko throws down putback dunk off glass in first NBA matchup

Although tempting to fire up a shot in your first NBA minutes, Dyson Daniels instead opts for the more unselfish route. The eighth overall selection in the draft proves immediately helpful to his new New Orleans Pelicans teammates, coming around a screen and driving into the lane against the Brooklyn Nets. Rather than force the issue against multiple defenders, Daniels showcases his distributing ability by dropping off an over-the-shoulder flick to Larry Nance Jr. for a jumper in the paint. Daniels picked up two assists in three minutes, leaving his mark on the Pelicans’ 130-108 season-opening victory on October 19, 2022.

Dyson Daniels

Dyson Daniels drives and delivers assist in first NBA contest

Remember the name Herbert Jones: a defensive stalwart who has more than earned his stripes during an impressive rookie campaign. Matched up on an island with superstar Paul George, Jones stays with every movement he makes, briefly disrupts his rhythm with a reach-in, then stays in perfect sync to lock him up and reject a long three attempt. The New Orleans Pelicans’ first-year forward contributed three rebounds, one steal and a huge block in a 94-81 win over the LA Clippers on November 19, 2021.

Herbert Jones

Herbert Jones blankets Paul George with first-class perimeter defense

It took all of one game for Jabari Smith Jr. to make an immediate impact with the Houston Rockets. A few months after Houston made him the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11 rookie rewards his team’s faith in him by showcasing his deft shooting touch from long range. Against the Atlanta Hawks in his first professional game, Smith Jr. crosses halfcourt, takes a pass from a teammate and without hesitation rises up from way behind the arc to drain one of his three triples. The Rockets may have lost the game, but they left Atlanta feeling confident about the future after Smith Jr. posted 17 points and seven rebounds on October 19, 2022.

Jabari Smith Jr.

Jabari Smith Jr. pulls up for deep trey in first NBA matchup

Just weeks into his NBA career, Josh Giddey has NBA fans and superstars alike buzzing about his movement of the ball. In his first regular season game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the rook demonstrates masterful handles, simultaneously losing his defender and drawing two more before floating the rock to a teammate for a layup. In addition to his smooth maneuvers on the court, Giddey locked in 10 rebounds in his debut on October 20, 2021.

Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey delivers pick-and-roll dime in first NBA appearance

Scottie Barnes is a problem. The Toronto Raptors rookie flashes his do-it-all talent in this possession, taking his defender off the dribble, getting to his spot inside the paint and floating a lefty finish that finds the bottom of the net. Barnes finished with 12 points and nine boards in his NBA debut in the October 20, 2021 contest.

Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes spins into the paint for hook shot in his first NBA contest

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