Rookies' "Welcome to the NBA" vs LeBron, KD, Luka

Bleacher Report gathered 13 players’ “welcome to the NBA” moments — the instant each felt they truly belonged or were humiliated by the league’s best. Tales range from getting posterized (“he dunked right on my head”), to guarding LeBron or Kevin Durant, to dropping 37 points in a breakout night. These snapshots matter because they show how facing superstar talent either humbles rookies or fuels their rise. Merlin sees these memories as rites of passage: a mix of pain and proof that for every lesson taken, confidence can follow. The anecdotes reveal the league’s swift schooling — one play can make a player fold or forge ahead — and hint which youngsters might temper talent with toughness.