Maurice Stokes
Despite being just 6’7″, Stokes led the NBA in rebounding as a rookie, pulling down 16.3 boards per game to go with 16.8 points and 4.9 assists. He maintained that level of production until hitting his head during a fall in his third season. Days later he fell into a coma. Stokes was diagnosed with post-traumatic encephalopathy, which left him paralyzed. No one had more rebounds over the course of his three seasons, and he had the second-most assists in that span, behind Bob Cousy.