The 2024 NBA Draft could be a big one for Illinois basketball fans, as we are likely to see Terrence Shannon Jr. selected in the first round.
Getting another former Illini in the NBA is exciting. We haven’t had too many players to root for in the past decade or so. That could all start changing in the near future, though.
Throughout the history of the Illinois basketball program and the professional ranks, there have been some pretty impressive rookie seasons. Illinois players who get to the professional ranks have had success at least in year one.
I took a look at the best rookie seasons of all time. I wanted to see who came into the league and lit the world on fire.
Here are the top five NBA rookie seasons by an Illinois basketball player
Honorable Mention - Kendall Gill (1990-91)
This was a tough list to put together because Illinois basketball has had so many good rookie seasons in the NBA. I am doing a top five, but I don’t want to leave Kendall Gill off. So, I have Gill as an honorable mention to make the list.
Gill had a great career with the Illini, earning consensus All-American honors and helping the program to the Final 4. He averaged 20.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game in his final season with the program.
The NBA came calling and with the No. 5 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected the Illini wing.
Gill had a great rookie season. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game for Charlotte. These numbers enabled Gill to make the All-Rookie team in 1991.
The Hornets improved from 19 wins to 26 wins in Gill’s rookie year. The franchise had only been around for two seasons prior to Gill arriving as well. It was tough leaving him off the top five, but it was a coin toss between him and No. 5 on the list. Honestly, he is probably 5B.
No. 5 Nick Anderson (1989-90)
Checking in at No. 5 is an Illini legend and someone who was the leader of some of the special teams in the history of Illinois basketball. Nick Anderson is one of the greatest to ever come through the program.
Anderson only spent two seasons in Champaign, and he put up big numbers both years. In his final year, he averaged 18.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He also helped Illinois to the Final 4 that season.
NBA was next on the list of things to do for Anderson. He had conquered the college ranks, and now it was time to head to The Association.
With the No. 11 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Anderson. He was sensational in year one with the Magic as well. Anderson averaged 11.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Despite his great numbers, Anderson was robbed of the All-Rookie team that season.
Anderson was thrown into the toughest situation out of any player on this list. The Magic were a new team to the NBA. They hadn’t played a single game yet. Anderson was the very first pick for the Orlando franchise. It was tough for him, as the Magic only won 18 games in the first season. Anderson still had a great rookie year, though.
No. 4 Don Ohl (1960-61)
It is tough to determine where the older players stand historically with the new players. It was a different game with different athletes back then. I feel like the No. 4 spot on this list should go to Don Ohl.
Ohl spent three seasons with the Illinois basketball program in the mid-1950s. He was great for the Illini, making the All-Big Ten team twice and averaging 19.6 points in his final season with the program.
After Ohl’s time with Illinois was done, he headed to the NBA. Back then, there were numerous rounds since there were only eight teams. With the fifth pick in the fifth round, No. 37 overall, the Philadelphia Warriors selected Ohl.
Ohl didn’t go to the Warriors, though. He spent the next couple of seasons staying local with the Peoria Caterpillars where he earned 1960 AAU All-American honors. The Detroit Pistons then bought Ohl’s contract from the Warriors.
During his rookie season with the Pistons, Ohl put up big numbers. He averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game. While his Detroit team was only 34-45 and had a first-round playoff exit, Ohl still impressed. He was a 6-foot-3 guard going up against players like MVP Bill Russell, Rookie of the Year Oscar Robertson, and points and rebounds leader Wilt Chamberlain.
Putting up great numbers against that tough of competition earns Ohl a spot in the top five. It was honestly tough not putting him higher on this list.
No. 3 Red Kerr (1954-55)
Illinois basketball had so many great players in the middle of the 1900s. I already touched on the talent that Don Ohl brought to the table. Red Kerr was just as impactful on the game of basketball.
Kerr put up huge numbers in the three seasons with the Illini. He notched a spot on the All-Big Ten team during his final year with the program in which he averaged 25.3 points per game.
The talent of Kerr got him noticed by the professional ranks. In the 1954 NBA Draft, the Syracuse Nationals selected the Illinois big man with the No. 6 pick overall.
The year before Kerr got to the Nationals, they made it to the NBA Championship game and fell just short to the Minneapolis Lakers. Syracuse needed an extra bump, and Kerr was just the answer.
Kerr came into the franchise and was great. He averaged 10.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Syracuse forged ahead that season and went 43-29 overall. They entered the playoffs and took down the Fort Wayne Pistons in the NBA Finals 4-3.
On top of Kerr’s great season stats, he also performed well in the NBA Finals. At the age of 22, he averaged 12.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in the finals against the Pistons.
Having a great rookie season and then notching an NBA Championship is an impressive feat. Kerr was a special player.
No. 2 Deron Williams (2005-06)
Again, it is tough to compare the modern-era players with the players who were around when the professional ranks were just getting started. I feel comfortable with putting Deron Williams at the No. 2 spot on this list, though.
Williams was an all-timer with the Illinois basketball program. He was a consensus All-American and helped Illinois reach the national championship in 2005. Williams’ 12.5 points, 6.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game as a junior were huge for this program.
Those great numbers that Williams put up at Illinois caught the attention of the NBA. With pick No. 3 in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Williams.
Williams’ rookie year was special. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game. Those great numbers earned him NBA All-Rookie honors that season as well.
From the jump, Williams was a leader on the Jazz. There is a reason Utah picked No. 3 in the 2005 NBA Draft. They only had 26 wins the year before, so it is not like Williams was going to a ready-made team.
Williams helped improve the Jazz from 26 wins to 41 wins during his rookie season. Along with his great numbers, I think Williams belongs in the No. 2 spot on the list of the greatest NBA rookie seasons by an Illinois basketball player.
No. 1 Donnie Freeman (1967-68)
We have finally arrived at the No. 1 player on the list. There were so many great Illinois NBA rookies, but I think Donnie Freeman takes the spot as the best rookie season by an Illini player.
Freeman was a dominating wing for the Illinois basketball program in the mid-1960s. He made the All-Big Ten team and in his final year, Freeman averaged 27.8 points per game for the Orange and Blue.
In the 1966 NBA Draft, Philadelphia came calling. With the ninth pick in the third round, No. 29 overall, the 76ers selected Freeman. Instead of heading to the NBA, Freeman picked the ABA and the Minnesota Muskies.
Freeman’s first season with the Muskies was special. He averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. These impressive numbers earned the former Illini great a spot on the All-Star team.
This was the lone season of the Muskies being in Minnesota. After that one season of existence, they moved to Miami to be the Miami Floridians.
Freeman helped the Muskies get to the Eastern Division Finals during his rookie season. He put up big numbers in his first season in the professional ranks, and his team saw great success. With those two things accounted for, I think Freeman has earned the top overall spot on this list.