Forty-four years ago, Wilt Chamberlain averaged an NBA rookie record 37.6 points per game. While no one is predicting Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony will come close to that mark, he does figure to at least challenge for the team's scoring lead.
General manager Kiki Vandeweghe has cautioned Anthony, however, just how tough the NBA treats rookies, Chamberlain's numbers notwithstanding. He recently showed Anthony the scoring averages of current superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki when they were rookies. None averaged more than 10.5 points. "I guess what he was trying to tell me is to take it game-by-game and don't try to go out there and do too much," Anthony said on the eve of training camp. "If I can just go there and play how I play, stay focused, stay calm and find my teammates (for assists), then I think I will be pretty good."