NBA rookies put up the numbers

0 Comments | USA TODAY, April, 2004 | by Roscoe Nance

Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers head an NBA rookie class that is the most productive in 10 years.

Rookies account for 4.5% of the points, assists, steals, rebounds and blocked shots produced in the league through Sunday's games. If they maintain that pace through Wednesday's season finales, they would top the 1994-95 class (4.2%) for the highest percentage of team production by rookies since the 1993-94 class.

"There are a lot of talented young rookies from this particular class that are going to be impact players in this league," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik says. "(This class) is more than just LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony."

Even without James' and Anthony's stats, this year's class accounts for 3.9% of...