T-Wolves Ricky Rubio named to NBA All-Rookie 1st team

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio has been named to the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie Team and forward Derrick Williams has been named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the National Basketball Association announced earlier today.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

In 41 games, 31 starts, Rubio averaged 10.6 points, 8.2 assists (5th in the NBA), 4.2 rebounds and 2.22 steals (3rd in the NBA) in 34.2 minutes per game. Rubio led all NBA rookies in assists, minutes and steals while recording 12 point-assist double-doubles, ranking him third in the NBA. Rubio was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January.

Williams averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 66 games -- he was the only Wolves player to appear in all 66 games this past season.

Rubio joins Pooh Richardson, Christian Laettner, Isaiah Rider, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, and Randy Foye as Timberwolves rookies to earn first team honors during their rookie seasons in Minnesota. Williams joins Felton Spencer, Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn and Wes Johnson as Timberwolves rookies to earn second team honors.

Below are the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:

2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM

Player                     Team                      First (2 pt)    Second (1 Pt)     Total

Kyrie Irving              Cleveland                29                -                          58

Ricky Rubio             Minnesota            21                7                         49

Kenneth Faried         Denver                   19                8                         46

Klay Thompson         Golden State          16                11                       43

Iman Shumpert         New York               15                10                       40

Kawhi Leonard         San Antonio            14                12                       40

Brandon Knight         Detroit                   13                14                       40

2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

Player                     Team                      First (2 pt)    Second (1 Pt)     Total

Chandler Parsons      Houston                10                13                      33

Isaiah Thomas         Sacramento            5                  17                      27

MarShon Brooks       New Jersey           3                  12                      18

Derrick Williams     Minnesota            2                  12                      16

Tristan Thompson     Cleveland               2                  12                      16

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes in parentheses): Markieff Morris, Phoenix, 7 (1); Kemba Walker, Charlotte 7; Alec Burks, Utah 2; Norris Cole, Miami 2; Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte 2; Enes Kanter, Utah 1; Greg Stiemsma, Boston 1; Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans 1; Nikola Vucevic, Philadelphia 1.