May 25, 2013

Kyrie Irving Makes 1st Team NBA All-Rookie, Tristan Thompson 2nd Team

Not exactly breaking news here, but the NBA announced it’s All-Rookie teams today with Kyrie Irving leading the way in votes. The teams are selected by votes from NBA coaches and Kyrie Irving earned 58 points, most among all rookies. That total placed him on the 1st-team list where he was joined by Ricky Rubio, Kenneth Faried, Klay Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Kawhi Leond, and Brandon Knight. Yes, that’s 7 players, but the last 3 all tied for 5th place, so they all get 1st-team nods.

Fellow top 5 pick Tristan Thompson earned enough points to make the 2nd-team. He is joined there by Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas, MarShon Brooks, and Derrick Williams. Thompson was tied for last on the All-Rookie teams with Derrick Williams, the player many pegged as the best player in the draft prior to selection night. Interestingly enough, though, were it not for the 3 way tie on the 1st-team, neither player would have made 1st or 2nd team selections.

Irving’s 1st team selection is hardly a surprise, but a nice cherry on the top of a rookie campaign that was everything fans in Cleveland hoped it could be. Having Tristan Thompson also making All-Rookie designation only adds to the hope Cleveland has for its future.

[Related: Kyrie Irving Named to USA Basketball's Men's Select Team]