Roy Voted NBA's Best Rookie
Brandon Roy Wins NBA Rookie of the Year award in a Landslide
Despite enduring numerous injuries this season, the Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard dazzled fans with his versatility and leadership.
Brandon Roy received 127 out of a possible 128 first-place votes (638 points) to win the 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and nobody was surprised.
Despite missing 25 games because of a heel injury this season, no other rookie came close to challenging for the award. With a stat line of 16.8 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game in 35 minutes a night, Roy gave Portland Trail Blazers fans a reason to look forward to next season. He is praised for his versatility, and often plays minutes at the point guard position despite his natural position being the shooting guard. With forward Zach Randolph (23.6 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game) having a breakout year, the Blazers may be looking at a bright future.
Here's how the other rookies finished in the voting
- Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors, finished second with 264 points after averaging 11.6 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game
- Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies, finished third with 93 points after averaging 14.5 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game
- Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats, finished fourth with 44 points after averaging 11.8 points per game
- Randy Foye, Minnesota Timberwolves, finished fifth after averaging 10.1 points per game
- LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers, finished sixth after averaging 9.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Roy was the Pacific-10 Conference's Player of the Year his senior season at University of Washington and was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the sixth overall pick. Soon thereafter, he was traded to Portland for the rights to Randy Foye, selected seventh overall by the Boston Celtics. The Celtics received point guard Sebastian Telfair, who eventually fell to third string point guard behind Delonte West and rookie Rajon Rondo. Telfair has had recent run-ins with the law, and the Celtics have said they will sever ties with him altogether.
The Blazers have the sixth best chance to land the number one pick in the upcoming NBA Draft this June, which will include well-known future stars, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. The NBA lottery drawing will take place sometime during the playoffs.
Here are the last five winners of the Rookie of the Year award
- 2006 - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets. Rookie season stats - 16.1 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 7.8 assists per game
- 2005 - Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats. Rookie season stats - 15.1 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, 1.7 blocks per game
- 2004 - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers. Rookie season stats - 20.9 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 5.9 assists per game
- 2003 - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns. Rookie season stats - 13.5 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game.
- 2002 - Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie season stats - 17.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks per game.
