ISTANBUL – LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets has won the 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year award, NBA announced on Thursday.
"Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is the recipient of the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year," said an official release on the NBA Communications website. "He is the third player to win the annual award with Charlotte, joining Larry Johnson (1991-92) and Emeka Okafor (2004-05)," it added.
Ball averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in 28.8 minutes in 51 games, leading all rookies in assists and steals and ranking second in points and rebounds.
He is the seventh rookie to average at least 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in a season since steals became an official statistic in the 1973-74 season, joining Magic Johnson (1979-80), Penny Hardaway (1993-94), Steve Francis (1999-00), Chris Paul (2005-06), Michael Carter-Williams (2013-14) and Ben Simmons (2017-18).
He received 84 first-place votes and got 465 total points from a global panel of 99 sportswriters and broadcasters.
The 19-year-old was also named to the US Team for the 2021 NBA Rising Stars rosters.
First Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Stephen Curry were some of the stars announced as members of the 2020-21 All-NBA first-team selection.
"Antetokounmpo was the only player to receive All-NBA First Team votes on all 100 ballots, earning his third consecutive First Team selection and fifth All-NBA Team honor overall," NBA said in a statement.
The Greek Freak's three First Team All-NBA selections trail only legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s four selections for the most in the history of Milwaukee Bucks.
Serbian forward Jokic became the first Denver Nuggets star in history to receive All-NBA Honors in three straight seasons. He got 99 votes.
Curry, who averaged an NBA-leading 32.0 points this season, had 98 First Team votes in his fourth selection to the First Team and seventh All-NBA Team honor overall, NBA added.
LA Clippers guard Kawhi Leonard has been selected to the All-NBA First Team for the third time and clinched his fifth All-NBA Team selection overall.
Dallas' Luka Doncic has been voted to the All-NBA First Team for the second season in a row. The Slovenian guard became the second player to make the All-NBA First Team at least twice in his first three seasons after Tim Duncan.
The Second Team is composed of Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (372 points), Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (352), Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (311), New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (253), and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (174).
The Third Team consists of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (148 points), Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (131), Clippers forward Paul George (89), Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (71), and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (61).
Pelicans part ways with head coach
The New Orleans Pelicans and coach Stan Van Gundy have mutually agreed to part ways, the Pelicans announced on Thursday.
"On behalf of Mrs. Gayle Benson and the Pelicans organization, I would like to thank Stan for the integrity and professionalism that he demonstrated during his time in New Orleans, as well as the commitment and work ethic he brought to our team," Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said in a statement.
Van Gundy, who was named the seventh manager in franchise history last year, compiled a 31-41 regular-season record in one season with the Pelicans.
He has a career regular-season record of 554-425 with Miami (2003-06), Orlando (2007-12), Detroit (2014-18), and New Orleans.
Contract ends between Wizards, Scott Brooks
The Washington Wizards confirmed on Thursday that they would not extend their contract with manager Scott Brooks.
"We have been committed to taking the proper steps over the last two seasons to develop our young players, bring in pieces to complement Bradley Beal, and build a winning environment that will ultimately lead to sustained on-court success," General Manager Tommy Sheppard said in a statement.
Brooks, 55, was inked as the team's coach in 2016. (Anadolu)
