New Kids on the Block: NBA All-Rookie Team

Michael WhittenbergApr 13, 2008

If you read the NBA round table article on the award winners, then you know by now who I handed out my end of the season hardware to.

Now it's that time to shed some light on the new kids on the block, or as the veterans call them, "Rooks".

While one leads his team in scoring, the others played important roles for their teams as well. Guys like Kevin Durant and Al Horford have been the main focus in the race for Rookie of the Year thus far.

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But it's time to give all the rookies that stood out this season some recognition. After the first team, things got pretty tough decision wise.

So without further ado, I present to you the Whittenberg All-Rookie Team.

Third Team

Acie Law IV, Atlanta Hawks

Naturally he is a point guard—but his style of play reminds me more of a two guard. Acie's numbers don't look that good on paper, but when he has played 20+ minutes he produces. Law is good left hand shooter and someone you have to guard in the clutch.

Nick Young, Washington Wizards

Young had his best month as a pro in March when he averaged 11.4 PPG, including a pair of 20 point performances. He's also been getting quality minutes off the bench, averaging 15 minutes per. But now that Gilbert Arenas has returned from injury, his minutes might decrease.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers

Young is one of the reasons Philly has had such a huge turnaround the second half of the season. Similar to the other Young, (Nick)—Thaddeus had his best month in March, and scored in double figures in all but five games in that month. Unlike most rookies, Young likes to defend, and he uses his length to his advantage. He has a great future ahead of him, and the 76ers aren't as bad as some thought they would be after trading Allen Iverson.

Yi Jianlian, Milwaukee Bucks

Yi has been bothered by injury the last month or so, and his numbers have gone down. He had his best month as a pro in December, and hasn't looked the same since—which is why he fell to the third team. But with that said, he still has a great future ahead of him. He is a solid shooter, and has the ability to become a good shot-blocker as well.

Glen Davis, Boston Celtics

He's only had three double figure games this season—but Glen "Big Baby" Davis has been a solid role player for the new look Celtics. Davis is extremely powerful, and is a good finisher down low, too. He has the makings to become a premier big man in years to come, but only time will tell.

Second Team

Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons

This month has been good to Stuckey. Not only is Flip Saunders giving him more minutes before playoff time, but he is averaging 14.5 PPG this month. Stuckey has already gained trust from Chauncey Billups and the rest of his veteran teammates. Look for Stuckey to play a big role off of Detroit's bench during the playoffs.

Juan Carlos Navarro, Memphis Grizzlies

Jamario Moon, Toronto Raptors

By now we've all heard about the journey Moon took to make it to the NBA. Not only that—but he has started 75 of the 78 games he has played in. Because of his length and athleticism, he is a good defender. But his shot selection is sometimes questionable. Moon is a good example that hard work pays off.

Jeff Green, Seattle Supersonics

Green has put up great numbers in April averaging 14.5 PPG, including a 35-point outburst against Denver on April 6th. His 35 points is the third most scored by a rookie this season, with Kevin Durant and Al Thronton ahead of him. The Sonics have plenty to look forward to towards the future with Green and his fellow rookie Kevin Durant.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Noah is a good defender and a good energy guy for the Bulls. Also a good rebounder, Noah has grab 10+ boards twice this month and is the only rookie to grab 20 boards this season. As terrible as the Bulls have been this year, Noah is one of the upsides in Chicago.

First Team

Mike Conley Jr, Memphis Grizzlies

Mike has great quickness to penetrate to the basket at will if he puts his mind to it. Conley was considered the best point guard available in the 2007 NBA Draft, and so far he has proved himself worthy of that assessment. He draws comparisons to Tony Parker, with his quickness and ability to penetrate to the basket. 9.0 PPG isn't that impressive—but for a rookie of his caliber, it's good enough. Conley is a fellow teammate of Navarro's and both guys will be solid building blocks for a franchise that is clearly in rebuild mode.

Kevin Durant, Seattle Supersonics

Yes he's a rookie, but Durant has already blossomed as the Sonics' new franchise player. A handful of rookies have looked good this season, but Durant pretty much had the Rookie of the Year award wrapped up after the first half. While some say he's the Rookie of the Year, I think that he should share the honors with Atlanta's rookie sensation. Durant has averaged 22.1 PPG this month, and scored 37 points against Denver on the 6th. His 37 points is only the second most scored by a rookie this season, with the man you'll hear about next ahead of him.

Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers

Thornton had the best rookie performance this season when he scored 39 points against Memphis in March. He is second among rookies in scoring, and for some reason isn't getting any consideration for Rookie of the Year. Aside from Kevin Durant, Thornton has been the second best scoring rookie this season.

Luis Scola, Houston Rockets

Scola is probably considered the third best rookie under Kevin Durant and Al Horford. He has been impressive lately, scoring in double figures 16 of his last 21 games. Houston need someone down low when Yao Ming suffered an season-ending injury, and Scola has done a great job filling in. And during Houston's 22-game win streak, he averaged 11.4 PPG.

Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks

Durant and Horford have the two rookies everyone has narrowed down for Rookie of the Year. If were to ask me, I would tell both Horford and Durant should win Rookie of the Year. While Durant has produced the best numbers among rookies on a losing team, Horford has produced on a playoff bound team. Horford is fifth among rookies in scoring and is averaging close to a double-double. He has also had a double-double in four of his last six games.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant and Al Horford

Honorable Mention

Sean Williams, New Jersey Nets

Carl Landry, Houston Rockets

Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves

Daequan Cook, Miami Heat

Jared Dudley, Charlotte Bobcats

Rookie of the Year Past Winners

2006-07 - Brandon Roy, Portland
2005-06 - Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City
2004-05 - Emeka Okafor, Charlotte
2003-04 - LeBron James, Cleveland
2002-03 - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
2001-02 - Pau Gasol, Memphis
2000-01 - Mike Miller, Orlando
1999-00 - Elton Brand, Chicago (tie), Steve Francis, Houston
1998-99 - Vince Carter, Toronto
1997-98 - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
1996-97 - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
1995-96 - Damon Stoudamire, Toronto
1994-95 - Grant Hill, Detroit (tie), Jason Kidd, Dallas
1993-94 - Chris Webber, Golden State
1992-93 - Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando
1991-92 - Larry Johnson, Charlotte
1990-91 - Derrick Coleman, New Jersey
1989-90 - David Robinson, San Antonio
1988-89 - Mitch Richmond, Golden State
1987-88 - Mark Jackson, New York
1986-87 - Chuck Person, Indiana
1985-86 - Patrick Ewing, New York
1984-85 - Michael Jordan, Chicago
1983-84 - Ralph Sampson, Houston
1982-83 - Terry Cummings, San Diego
1981-82 - Buck Williams, New Jersey
1980-81 - Darrell Griffith, Utah
1979-80 - Larry Bird, Boston
1978-79 - Phil Ford, Kansas City
1977-78 - Walter Davis, Phoenix
1976-77 - Adrian Dantley, Buffalo
1975-76 - Alvan Adams, Phoenix
1974-75 - Keith Wilkes, Golden State
1973-74 - Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo
1972-73 - Bob McAdoo, Buffalo
1971-72 - Sidney Wicks, Portland
1970-71 - Dave Cowens, Boston (tie), Geoff Petrie, Portland
1969-70 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1968-69 - Wes Unseld, Baltimore
1967-68 - Earl Monroe, Baltimore
1966-67 - Dave Bing, Detroit
1965-66 - Rick Barry, San Francisco
1964-65 - Willis Reed, New York
1963-64 - Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati
1962-63 - Terry Dischinger, Chicago
1961-62 - Walt Bellamy, Chicago
1960-61 - Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati
1959-60 - Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia
1958-59 - Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis
1957-58 - Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia
1956-57 - Tom Heinsohn, Boston
1955-56 - Maurice Stokes, Rochester
1954-55 - Bob Pettit, Milwaukee
1953-54 - Ray Felix, Baltimore
1952-53 - Don Meineke, Fort Wayne