Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin named NBA Rookie of the Year

[News_Editor]

Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin named NBA Rookie of the Year

2011-05-05 05:59:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Los Angeles Clippers' power forward Blake Griffin on Wednesday was named the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie of the Year.

Griffin, 22, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, waited one full year to make his NBA debut after being drafted first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft and missing the whole 2009-2010 season due to a stress fracture in his left knee sustained during the Clippers' final preseason game.

On Wednesday, the NBA announced that Griffin received 118 first-place votes, summing 590 points to become the first Rookie of the Year to win the award unanimously in over 20 years, when David Robinson was selected in 1989-90.

During the 2010-2011 season, Griffin averaged 22.5 points per game (12th overall), leading his team and all rookies. He also finished fourth overall in rebounding with a 12.1 average, recording 63 double-doubles during the season.

At six foot 10 inches tall, Griffin, a six-time Western Conference Rookie of the Month, was also the first rookie to be selected to an NBA All-Star Game since Yao Ming in 2003. In addition, Griffin appeared in the Rookie Challenge and won the Slam Dunk contest.

Griffin also recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career - 33 points, 17 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists in the Clippers' double-overtime win over Washington, becoming the first rookie to record a triple-double with at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists since Jerry West did it on February 26, 1961 (38 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists).

Washington Wizards' guard John Wall finished second with 295 points, and Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins finished third with 81 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

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