< Back to 68k.news AE front page

Wemby, Holmgren headline NBA All-Rookie First Team

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren headlined the NBA's All-Rookie team selections, receiving first-team votes on all 99 ballots.

The first-team honor caps a sterling postseason awards run for Wembanyama. He won the Rookie of the Year award unanimously earlier this month and finished second to Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The All-Rookie teams, like other awards, are voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters.

Wembanyama led all rookies in scoring (21.4 PPG) and rebounds (10.6) and led the NBA in blocks per game (3.6). Holmgren averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game for the 57-win Thunder, who finished with the best record in the Western Conference. Holmgren was the only player selected who was not in the 2023 NBA Draft; the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft missed last season because of a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller was named on all but one ballot, and had 97 first-team votes and one second-team vote. Miami Heat wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski rounded out the All-Rookie First Team.

The Pulse Newsletter

Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign up

Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign up

Buy

The second team consisted of Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, Houston Rockets wing Amen Thompson, Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, Thunder wing Cason Wallace and Memphis Grizzlies wing GG Jackson II. Jackson was the only member of either All-Rookie team not drafted in the first round; the Grizzlies took him 45th last June.

Trayce Jackson-Davis nearly made the All-Rookie Second Team but earned one point less (42) than Jackson (43). Jackson made four fewer ballots but received five first-team votes, while Jackson-Davis was on the second team on all 42 ballots he appeared.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson was the player to receive a first-team vote who did not end up on a team. He led all rookies in assists-per-game (5.4), earning one first-team vote and 32 second-team votes.

All-Rookie voting results

Required reading

(Photo: Brien Aho / Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Mike Vorkunov is the national basketball business reporter for The Athletic. He covers the intersection of money and basketball and covers the sport at every level. He previously spent three-plus seasons as the New York Knicks beat writer. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeVorkunov

< Back to 68k.news AE front page