The NBA Rookie of the Year award is given annually to the best first-year player in the National Basketball Association. This award recognizes outstanding performance during the regular season and is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. To be eligible, a player must be in their first season in the NBA and have played a minimum number of games. The award has been presented since the 1952-53 season, and past winners include notable players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.