Michael Jordan was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1985.
Jordan entered the NBA after Chicago selected him with the third pick of the 1984 draft. During the 1984–85 season, he averaged 28.2 points per game, helped the Bulls improve from 27–55 to 38–44, and returned the team to the playoffs. His immediate impact made him one of the league’s biggest attractions before he had won an NBA championship.
The award recognized the 1984–85 season, which is why it is commonly listed simply as 1985. Jordan also became an All-Star starter as a rookie and earned All-NBA Second Team honors. The Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon, selected first in the same draft, finished behind him in Rookie of the Year voting.
A frequent mix-up is Jordan’s college award: he was ACC Rookie of the Year in 1982 at North Carolina. In the NBA, the relevant award came three years after his college debut and preceded his six championship seasons with Chicago.