Chicago's Rose named NBA Rookie of the Year

Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 9:20 PM Posted by Beijing News


Derrick Rose, who averaged 16.8 points and a league-best 6.3 assists a game, was named the National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.

Rose, last year's top draft pick, helped boost the Bulls into the playoffs after missing out last season and led Chicago to a victory over Boston in game one of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series last Saturday.

Rose, a point guard, becomes the third Chicago player to claim the honor, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan in 1985 and Elton Brand, who shared the 2000 award with Steve Francis.

"This is very special for me," Rose said. "Since the first game of the season, the biggest thing for me has been to get this award. Winning this award comes from playing tough and aggressive every night."

Not since San Antonio's Tim Duncan in 1998 has a player who was selected first in the previous year's NBA Draft won the top rookie award and guided his team into the playoffs.

"In this day and age, the point guard position is to hardest one to master. From day one, Derrick has been like a sponge trying to learn everything," said Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro.

"I know the type of person he is and the work he puts in on a daily basis. He wants to continue to improve. When you have all that and the ability he has, plus the humility he has, his growth will be dramatic.

"It's a great way to start what's going to be a great career."

Rose won the honor in voting by a media panel of 120 with 111 first-place votes and 574 points overall to 246 points with five first-place votes for runner-up O.J. Mayo of Memphis. New Jersey's Brook Lopez was third on 127.

Rose averaged 37 minutes a game, hitting 47.5 percent of his shots from the field and 78.8 percent from the free throw line.







Edmonds

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