NBA Sports News

Paolo Banchero leads NBA All-Rookie Teams

Paolo Banchero leads the All-NBA Rookie First Team as he was unanimously named to the team, receiving 100 First Team votes. The Orlando Magic forward was named NBA Rookie of the Year earlier this month, becoming the first top pick to receive the award since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016. Banchero had a great rookie season for the Magic, averaging 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in 72 appearances for Orlando.

NBA All rookie teams
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Banchero is joined in the All-NBA Rookie First Team by the remaining two Rookie of the Year finalists – Jalen Williams and Walker Kessler. Williams received 99 First Team votes while Kessler had 95. Williams who was drafted with the 12th pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder played in 75 games for the team averaging 14.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Kessler, who ended up in Utah after being drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 22nd pick and traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, made a name for himself as one of the best shot blockers in the league. He was fourth in the league with 2.3 blocks per game and also added 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Jazz.

Keegan Murray, who was drafted fourth overall by the Sacramento Kings, is the only player among the All-NBA Rookie team members who gained Playoff experience in his first season in the league. The forward from Iowa averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the regular season and 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the Playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. He received 88 First Team and 9 Second Team votes.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin rounds up the All-NBA Rookie First Team receiving 71 First and 28 Second team votes. The sixth pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, played 78 games for the Pacers averaging 16.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

All-NBA Rookie First Team

Paolo Banchero – Orlando Magic
Jalen Williams – Oklahoma City Thunder
Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
Keegan Murray – Sacramento Kings
Bennedict Mathurin – Indiana Pacers

Jaden Ivey leads the All-NBA Rookie Second team as he is the only one in that team who received a significant number of first team votes – 43. The fifth pick of the last draft averaged 16.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Pistons. His teammate Jalen Duren, the ninth pick of the last draft, received 85 second team votes. He averaged 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for the Pistons.

The Houston Rockets also have two players named in the All-NBA Rookie Second Team. Jabari Smith Jr. received one first team and 70 second team votes and Tari Eason had 2 first and 43 second team votes. Smith Jr., the third pick of the last draft averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Rockets. Eason, who was the 17. pick of the 2022 NBA draft, played in all 82 games this season averaging 9.3 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Jeremy Sochan rounds up the All-NBA Rookie teams. The Spurs forward received 66 second team votes after averaging 11 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

All-NBA Rookie Second Team

Jaden Ivey – Detroit Pistons
Jalen Duren – Detroit Pistons
Jabari Smith Jr. – Houston Rockets
Jeremy Sochan – San Antonio Spurs
Tari Eason – Houston Rockets


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