Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota
Timberwolves forward/center and 2015-16 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year
Karl-Anthony Towns has been named to the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First
Team, the NBA announced earlier today. Towns was a unanimous choice,
receiving 130 First Team votes for a total of 260 points.
Towns
led all qualified rookies in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounding (10.5 rpg),
field goal percentage (.542), double-doubles (51) and minutes (32.0
mpg), and was second in blocks (1.68 bpg) and third in free throw
percentage (.811). He was the only rookie, and one of just 18 players,
to start all 82 games this season. Among all players, Towns finished
eighth in rebounding and shooting percentage, 10th in blocks and second
in point/rebound double-doubles.
Towns
was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month all six months
this season, making him the eighth player since the award’s inception
(1981-82 season) to win six consecutive Rookie of the Month honors:
Damian Lillard in 2012-13, Blake Griffin in 2010-11, Chris Paul in
2005-06, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James in 2003-04, Tim Duncan in
1997-98 and David Robinson in 1989-90.
The
7-0 forward/center was chosen as the Western Conference Player of the
Week for April 4-10, the first Wolves rookie to be honored with such an
award. Towns was Minnesota's leading rebounder 63 times and top scorer
on 27 occasions; he had 32 games with 20+ points among his 73
double-figure efforts. He sank the game-winning jumper with :01.8 to
play April 9 at Portland. Towns posted season highs in rebounds (21)
and assists (nine) April 3 vs. Dallas, becoming the NBA's first rookie
to collect at least 21 rebounds and nine assists in the same game since
Elgin Baylor (Feb. 9, 1959 vs. New York). The 21 rebounds tied Gorgui
Dieng's club rookie record, while his 18 defensive boards broke
Christian Laettner's franchise rookie mark. Towns led all scorers with
32 points March 18 at Houston, his fourth 30+ scoring effort. He
collected 30 points and 15 rebounds Feb. 27 at New Orleans, the first
30/15 outing by a rookie since Blake Griffin in March 2011. Towns won
the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on Feb. 13 and played in the BBVA
Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 12 as part of All-Star Weekend
in Toronto. Towns set Wolves’ season rookie records for points (1503),
rebounds (855) and blocks (138).
The
voting panel consisted of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout
the United States and Canada who were asked to select five players for
the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of
position. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for
second team votes.
Towns
joins Pooh Richardson, Christian Laettner, Isaiah Rider, Stephon
Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, Randy Foye, Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins as
Wolves rookies to earn All-Rookie First Team honors.
Below are the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:
2015-16 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM
Karl-Anthony Towns Minnesota 130 - 260
Kristaps Porzingis New York 130 - 260
Devin Booker Phoenix 103 25 231
Nikola Jokic Denver 73 40 186
Jahlil Okafor Philadelphia 71 44 186
2015-16 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM
Justise Winslow Miami 44 63 151
D’Angelo Russell L.A. Lakers 25 92 142
Emmanuel Mudiay Denver 35 70 140
Myles Turner Indiana 28 83 139
Willie Cauley-Stein Sacramento 2 46 50
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first-place votes in parentheses):
Frank
Kaminsky, Charlotte, 47 (2); Josh Richardson, Miami, 47 (4); Stanley
Johnson, Detroit, 42 (1); Trey Lyles, Utah, 26; Bobby Portis, Chicago,
13; T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia, 2 (7); Mario Hezonja, Orlando, 4;
Larry Nance Jr., Los Angeles Lakers, 3; Norman Powell, Toronto, 3;
Justin Anderson, Dallas, 2; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn, 2; Boban
Marjanovic, San Antonio, 2; Jonathon Simmons, San Antonio, 2; Jerian
Grant, New York, 1; Marcelo Huertas, Los Angeles Lakers, 1; Raul Neto,
Utah, 1; Cameron Payne, Oklahoma City, 1; Joe Young, Indiana, 1.
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