Spain/USA - Veteran rookie stands out
Jorge Garbajosa, the Toronto Raptors' 29-year-old Spanish rookie, is setting the early pace as the NBA's top newcomer, in what is turning out to be a surprisingly deep, if not spectacular rookie class
From: www.usatoday.com
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By David DuPree, USA TODAY
Jorge Garbajosa, the Toronto Raptors' 29-year-old Spanish rookie, is setting the early pace as the NBA's top newcomer, in what is turning out to be a surprisingly deep, if not spectacular rookie class.
Using a USA TODAY rookie index, Garbajosa, who signed with the Raptors as a free agent in July, is the runaway leader, seven points ahead of runner-up Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz. Millsap was a second-round pick. Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, drafted No. 1 overall, is seventh on the list, 16 points behind his teammate.
The 6-9 Garbajosa was a star in the Spanish League and the Italian League before coming to the NBA and was also a key performer for the Spanish national team that won the FIBA World Championships last summer. Going into Monday, he was first among all rookies in rebounding (5.7) and steals (1.8) and third in scoring (9.1).
USA TODAY subjectively picked 10 early rookie-of-the-year candidates and ranked them in four categories that encompass formulas to measure every aspect of the game.
The player who performs best in a category gets one point, while the lowest-ranking player gets a 10.
The player with the lowest total from all of the categories is, theoretically, the top rookie.
Garbajosa finished first in two of the categories, rank points and hands, and second in another, team dominance.
"Jorge Garbajosa has contributed toward winning at every stop in his professional career," Bryan Colangelo, president and general manager of the Raptors, said when he signed Garbajosa. "We anticipate he will bring experience, leadership and toughness to this basketball team."
Garbajosa has done just that, playing mostly center and power forward while logging some minutes at small forward and shooting guard. He has started 17 of Toronto's 24 games.
Millsap is a quiet, rugged player who has quickly become one of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's favorites and has played a major role in Utah's success this season. He is averaging 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in only 15.7 minutes a game while shooting 56.2% from the field.
"It's amazing" Sloan said. "You don't hear anything out of him except what he does on the court."
Millsap, a three-time NCAA rebounding champion, played at Louisiana Tech, the same school as former Jazz great Karl Malone.
"I just want to show everybody what I can do," he said.
This rookie class is demonstrating that one doesn't have to be a high pick to have an impact. In addition to Garbajosa and Millsap, fourth-place Craig Smith of Minnesota was also a second-round pick while sixth-place Jordan Farmar, the Lakers backup point guard, was the 26th overall pick.
Going into the season, Portland's Brandon Roy, the sixth overall pick, and Charlotte's Adam Morrison, the third pick, were the rookie of the year favorites. But Roy has played in only five games because of a heel injury, and Morrison has been up and down and is eighth in the current rankings.
Morrison does lead all rookies in scoring — he's the only one in double figures with a 13.8 average — but he is also the only rookie playing at least 30 minutes a game (34). Garbajosa is playing 29.2 minutes an outing.