Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies were unanimous selections to the 2008-09 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today.

Rounding out the NBA All-Rookie First Team are Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (53 points), New Jersey’s Brook Lopez (49 points) and Miami’s Michael Beasley (44 points).

The 2008-09 Rookie of the Year, Rose led rookies in assists (6.3 apg), was second in scoring (16.8 ppg), and averaged 3.9 rebounds. A three-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, December, March), Rose represented Chicago at All-Star Saturday Night in Phoenix, becoming the first rookie to win the PlayStation® Skills Challenge with a time of 35.3 seconds.

A two-time Western Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, April), Mayo led rookies in scoring (18.5 ppg) and ranked fifth in assists (3.2 apg), and averaged 3.8 rebounds. Mayo, who shot .438 from the floor and .879 from the free throw line, set a Grizzlies rookie record with 1,516 points this season.

Westbrook, a two-time Western Conference Rookie of the Month selection (December, February) was fourth among first-year players in scoring (15.3 ppg) and second in assists (5.3 apg). Westbrook was the only rookie to record a triple-double this season, posting 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 96-87 win over Dallas on March 2.

Lopez averaged 13.0 points and was second among rookies in rebounds (8.1 rpg) and double-doubles (18). The two-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (January, February) led first-year players in blocks (1.8 bpg) and his 151 blocks this season is a Nets rookie record.

Beasley averaged 13.9 points and was eighth among rookies in rebounds (5.4 rpg). The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April, Beasley led the Rookie Team in scoring with 29 points at the Rookie Challenge.

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of the Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Gordon (39 points), Minnesota’s Kevin Love (34 points), Miami’s Mario Chalmers (29 points), Memphis’ Marc Gasol (25 points), Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin (tie, 17 points) and Portland’s Rudy Fernandez (tie, 17 points).

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.

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes in parentheses): Courtney Lee, Orlando, 12; Jason Thompson, Sacramento, 7; Marreese Speights, Philadelphia, 3; Greg Oden, Portland, 3 (1); Robin Lopez, Phoenix, 2 (1).



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THIS IS OLD. IGNORE THIS!

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner presents his NBA Rookie of the Year watch. NBA rookies are first-year players. Note that Greg Oden is considered a rookie this season. The InsideHoops.com NBA Rookie Watch has been running for almost 10 years now and provides an expert view on the true candidates for 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year. Updated every two weeks, give or take a week.

1) Derrick rose 6-3 190 PG Chicago Bulls
	Stats: 17.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.6% FG, 34.1% 3FG Comments: An explosive, true point guard with a bright future. Still developing his outside shot.

2) Brook Lopez 7-0 260 C New Jersey Nets
	Stats: 9.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 0.7 apg, 2.0 bpg, 47.1% FG Comments: A legit big-man with terrific basketball IQ and nice intensity on both ends of floor. Leading rookies in rebounding and shot-blocking.

3) Russell Westbrook 6-3 187 PG Oklahoma City Thunder
	Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 40.0% FG, 31.8% 3FG Comments: Still needs to develop a shot, plus court sense, but coming along nicely lately and put up some big recent games.

4) O.J. Mayo 6-4 210 SG Memphis Grizzlies
	Stats: 19.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 45.3% FG, 39% 3FG Comments: A legit young budding star who plays like he's not afraid of anyone. Plays hard on both ends of the floor.

5) Michael Beasley 6-9 245 F Miami Heat
	Stats: 13.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.6 bpg, 44.2% FG, 32.1% 3FG Comments: At this point in his early career Beasley is very good bench material, but as a starter he's very weak on the defensive end.

6) D.J. Augustin 6-0 180 PG Charlotte Bobcats
	Stats: 12.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 40.8% FG, 40.0% 3FG Comments: Super quick but must learn how to use his speed better, and get stronger so he doesn't get shoved around defensively.

7) Greg Oden 7-0 285 C Portland Trail Blazers
	Stats: 8.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.3 bpg, 53.1% FG, 64.8% FG Comments: Coming on slowly. Rebounds, takes up space, moves up and down well but still finding his way on the court. Third best rookie rebounder and second best rookie shot-blocker per game so far.

8) Marc Gasol 7-1 265 F/C Memphis Grizzlies
	Stats: 11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.1 bpg, 51.6% FG Comments: Basketball-smart, solid but unspectacular big man. Third best rookie shot-blocker. Good away-from-ball player, too.

9) Rudy Fernandez 6-6 185 G Portland Trail Blazers
	Stats: 10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.8 spg, 41.7% FG, 39.1% 3FG Comments: Versatile talent who would put up bigger stats if Blazers weren't so deep.

10) Mario Chalmers 6-1 190 PG Miami Heat
	Stats: 10.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.0 spg, 43.4% FG, 37.8% 3FG Comments: The best of what exists in the very lacking Miami Heat point guard position. Leading rookies in steals per game.

11) Eric Gordon 6-3 220 SG Los Angeles Clippers
	Stats: 10.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 44.4% FG, 37.6% 3FG Comments: Having a wildly inconsistent season, but that's partially due to being on the struggling Clippers.

NBA ROOKIE WATCH: HONORABLE MENTION NBA ROOKIES

Kevin Love (Timberwolves) is rebounding well, grabbing 7.7 rpg, second best among rookies. Jason Thompson (Kings) is hitting the boards nicely. Luc Mbah a Moute (Bucks) is rebounding well and good at stealing the basketball. George Hill (Spurs) is 6th best for rookies in assists per game. JaVale McGee (Wizards) is a good shot-blocker. Anthony Randolph (Kings) swats shots nicely. Courtney Lee (Magic) is good with steals.


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Older NBA Rookie of the Year Watch
Updated November 23, 2008

1) Derrick Rose PG Chicago Bulls - Stats: 19.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.1 spg, 48.5% FG, 36.8% 3FG - Rose looks better by the week and could eventually be mentioned in the same sentence as Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

2) O.J. Mayo G Memphis Grizzlies - Stats: 20.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg, 43.3% FG, 37.8% 3FG - The Grizzlies stink, but Mayo has been an instant bright spot and will be an NBA star for a very long time.

3) Michael Beasley F Miami Heat - Stats: 14.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.7 spg, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3FG - Beasley has been good, but is still learning the complicated NBA game, and still learning to play defense.

4) Rudy Fernandez SG Portland Trail Blazers - Stats: 11.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 42.1% FG, 42.0% 3FG - Contributing more than his stats suggest, Fernandez has been a key Blazers contributor. Rudy, InsideHoops.com officially welcomes you to the NBA. Stick around.

5) D.J. Augustin PG Charlotte Bobcats - Stats: 12.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 43.1% FG, 43.9% 3FG - Augustin recently got more minutes and has made the most of them. He's been too good to keep totally benched, but will probably continue to split minutes with other Bobcats backcourt players.

6) Brook Lopez C New Jersey Nets - Stats: 8.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.2 bpg, 50.0% FG, 72.0% FT - Starting in place of Josh Boone, Lopez has been terrific recently. InsideHoops.com predicts he winds up continuing to start even once Boone is back.

7) Greg Oden C Portland Trail Blazers - Stats: 8.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.7 bpg, 51.0% FG, 62.5% FT - Oden started off slowly, looking too big and out of shape, but he's been coming along recently. Leading all rookies in blocks per game, but only ahead of Anthony Randolph by a little. The Blazers haven't played particularly well when he's on the floor, however, but that problem should hopefully take care of itself in the coming weeks.

8) Marc Gasol C/PF Memphis Grizzlies - Stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 bpg, 57.7% FG - The international star has been good, but not anything close to a star in the NBA. Very solid player.

9) Anthony Morrow G Golden State Warriors - Stats: 14.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 54.5% FG, 60.9% 3FG - Coming out of nowhere, Morrow has had a few amazing games for the Warriors. The problem is, Don Nelson's player rotations change in dramatic fashion quite often, so in a week or two Morrow could wind up barely playing. Or playing even more. It's a tossup. But he's been a hidden gem.

10) Russell Westbrook PG Oklahoma City Thunder - Stats: 11.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 31.9% FG, 26.9% 3FG - Westbrook is definitely skilled but has a way to go when it comes to shooting, especially from outside. He'a also not creating for teammates as much as hoped, yet.

11) Jason Thompson C/PF Sacramento Kings - Stats: 11.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, 54.0% FG, 65.3% FT - Thompson is getting nice minutes, but he and other Kings are getting more shots than they will once Kevin Martin returns. Still, Jason's a good backup-level talent.

12) Luc Mbah a Moute F Milwaukee Bucks - Stats: 9.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 43.9% FG, 74.2% FT - Having overtaken Charlie Villanueva for the Bucks starting power forward spot, Mbah a Moute is currently leading all rookies in rebounds per game and playing better in the NBA than expected.

13) Darrell Arthur F Memphis Grizzlies - Stats: 6.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.6 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.2 bpg, 39.0% FG - Arthur is extremely versatile and contributing across the board, though he's not shooting well just yet. Looks like he'll have a good career as a smart, capable backup.

14) Mario Chalmers PG Miami Heat - Stats: 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.1 spg, 40.0% FG, 34.6% 3FG - Second in assists per game for rookies to Derrick Rose and first for rookies in steals per game, Chalmers is good, though at his current skill level he's more suited for being a team's prime backup point guard, not as a starter. But he has plenty of potential to keep rising.

15) George Hill G San Antonio Spurs - Stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 42.6% FG, 35.0% 3FG - Hill has had a successful rookie season so far, but primarily because of injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. As both of them return, Hill's minutes and production will diminish. Still, he appears to be a legit NBA talent and is better than expected.




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Older NBA Rookie of the Year Watch
Updated November 1, 2008

2008-09 NBA ROOKIE RANKINGS

1) Michael Beasley F Miami Heat - Alongside Wade and the Matrix, Beasley should have the green light to do his thing right away. Big points and a healthy amount of rebounds are expected. Aside from those three players the team is pretty empty, so Beasley can definitely get tons of minutes.

2) Derrick Rose PG Chicago Bulls - Should have a very good rookie season. Athough the Bulls were awful last last, they have plenty of talent in the backcourt. So Rose doesn't have to put up big stats to be effective. He just has to be an efficient floor leader.

3) O.J. Mayo G Memphis Grizzlies - The rebuilding Grizzlies traded Mike Miller away, opening up things for Mayo and current leader Rudy Gay. There isn't much talent on this team so there's plenty of room for Mayo to put up big numbers. He's probably starting at shooting guard, alongside point guard Mike Conley.

4) Russell Westbrook PG Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder hope Westbrook can emerge as a star and turn Earl Watson into an effective backup. He'll play a lot and should do well, even if the Thunder don't.

5) Kevin Love PF Minnesota Timberwolves - Alongside Al Jefferson and Mike Miller, Love should put up nice points and rebounds, and be a key member of the rotation. He's ready to have an immediate impact.

6) Greg Oden C Portland Trail Blazers - The first pick in the 2007 Draft will be considered a rookie in 2008-09 since he was injured and inactive all last regular season. But early in the season he looks overweight, lumbering and out of shape. And now he's out injured for 2-4 weeks. It may take him several months to get fit and regain his agility.

7) Brook Lopez C New Jersey Nets - Lopez isn't expected to be a star, but he's one of the select few rookies who could average something close to a double-double. Eight point and eight rebounds per game are easily possible for Lopez, if he gets the minutes.

8) Marc Gasol C/PF Memphis Grizzlies - Already a proven international star in a top overseas league. As empty as the Grizzlies are up front, Gasol should have an immediate impact, if he's able to adjust to the NBA game fairly quickly. He's no lock to do well, however.

9) Jason Thompson C/PF Sacramento Kings - Off to a very strong start, after just two games Thompson is averaging 18 ppg and 10 rpg. It's way too early to get particularly excited just yet, though. Plus, Brad Miller will return in a few games and play major minutes.

10) Rudy Fernandez SG Portland Trail Blazers - An experienced international player who can already play on a high level in a very good European league, Fernandez could step right in and help the Blazers, but probably just off the bench and therefore with limited minutes to worth with.

11) Eric Gordon SG Los Angeles Clippers - Assuming he gets nice minutes right away next to Baron Davis, Gordon should be able to rip the net pretty quickly. Cuttino Mobley is aging, so the team hopes Gordon is the future, but in this case, the future could be now.

OTHER NBA ROOKIES WORTH MENTIONING

Darrell Arthur (Grizzlies) is hitting the boards hard, blocking shots and getting steals early on. We'll watch him... Mario Chalmers (Heat) is getting lots of minutes early on but we'll see what the deal is in about a week or two before knowing what to say about him... Jerryd Bayless (Portland Trail Blazers) is a scoring machine but will get limited minutes early on... Nicolas Batum (Trail Blazers) looks very talented but will get limited minutes... Small forward Joe Alexander (Milwaukee Bucks) will be behind Richard Jefferson, so unless he's going to play out of position at the four, he'll get limited minutes. Point guard D.J. Augustin (Charlotte Bobcats) should initially play behind Raymond Felton, who will get a chance to prove to new coach Larry Brown that he's worthy of being a starter in this league. Power forward Jason Thompson (Sacramento Kings) will have to prove he's worthy of big minutes at the pro level. Shooting guard Brandon Rush (Indiana Pacers) could help right away but should just be a backup behind Danny Granger or Mike Dunleavy. Robin Lopez (Suns) actually may get a lot of minutes this season as the prime backup to a very old Shaquille O'neal... Danilo Gallinari (Knicks) isn't getting any real minutes... Anthony Randolph (Warriors) isn't getting any real minutes.

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