USA - NBA announce all-rookie first team

NEW YORK (NBA) - Portland Trail Blazers ace and 2006/07 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy headlines a talented group of players named in the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Roy, a three-time Western Conference Rookie of the Month, received the most nominations from the NBA's 30 head coaches after a season in which he averaged highs of 16.8 points, 4.0 assists and 35.4 minutes, while ranking in the top 10 among rookie leaders with 4.4 rebounds, 1.18 steals and four double-doubles.

The 22-year-old was accompanied by team-mate LaMarcus Aldridge in the six-man squad.

The Trail Blazers duo were joined in the team by Toronto pair Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa, Minnesota's Randy Foye and Memphis' Rudy Gay.

"We all knew Brandon would make it into the first team after winning Rookie of the Year," said Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

"For the league to take notice of what we all know here in Portland is an important step to where we're taking this franchise."

The 22-year-old was joined by team-mate LaMarcus Aldridge who, after being second pick in the 2006 NBA draft, averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 22.1 minutes, 1.16 blocked shots and scored 10-plus points 27 times, 20-plus five times and posted six double-doubles in 63 games.

Former Benetton Treviso star Bargnani, the number one pick in this season's draft, was third among rookies in scoring (11.6 ppg) and fifth in blocks (.82 bpg), where as his Spanish team-mate Garbajosa finished the season fifth among rookies in rebounds (4.9 rpg) and posted a 1.22 steals-per-turnover ratio.

Foye averaged 10.1 points and 2.7 rebounds while playing in all 82 games for the Timberwolves, while Gay's numbers improved as the season progressed, including averages of 13.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in his final 24 games.

The All-Rookie Second Team was made up of Utah's Paul Millsap, Charlotte's Adam Morrison, Chicago's Tyrus Thomas and Minnesota's Craig Smith, while Boston's Rajon Rondo, Charlotte's Walter Herrmann and New Jersey's Marcus Williams all tied for the final spot.

FIBA