The awards keep coming for Portland Trail Blazers guard and this year’s unanimous 2012-2013 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard, who headlines the 2012-2013 NBA All-Rookie First Team that the NBA announced today with Lillard being the lone unanimous selection by receiving 58 points that included 29 First Team votes..
Joining Lillard on the First Team are Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal and New Orleans Hornet forward Anthony Davis, who totaled 57 points each, that included 28 First Team votes. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters with 50 points, that included 21 First Team votes and Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, who ended up with 47 points on 18 First Team votes rounded out this year’s first team rookie selections.
Lillard was an obvious pick with his 19-point scoring average and 6.1 assists that led all rookies to go along with his 3.1 rebounds, as well as breaking Stephen Curry’s rookie record for 3-pointers in a season by finishing with 185 and becoming just the third NBA rookie with at least 1,500 points and 500 assists. His sweep of all six of the league’s Rookie of the Month awards this season also cememnted Lillard’s unanimous selection.
The No. 1 overall draft selection last year, Davis was top among rookies with his 8.2 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game. He also averaged 13.5 points and posted 11 double-doubles. Waiters and Beal ranked second and third respectively among rookie scorers with their averages of 14.7 points per game and 13.9 points per game with Waiters scoring in double figures 45 times, which included 14 games of 20 points or more. While Barnes averaged only 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists he was a very key component in helping the Warriors to a 47-35 record and sixth seed in the West for their first playoff appearance since the 2006-2007 season.