Towns, Porzingis headline NBA All-Rookie first team
The NBA released its All-Rookie first team on Thursday, with the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns and New York Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis headlining the group.
First Team
| Player | Team | Total Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Timberwolves | 260 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | Knicks | 260 |
| Devin Booker | Suns | 231 |
| Nikola Jokic | Nuggets | 186 |
| Jahlil Okafor | 76ers | 186 |
Towns and Porzingis were the only players to earn unanimous first-team selections, which doesn't come as a shock given their dominance over the season's first three months. While Porzingis would eventually cool down, Towns would go on to win Rookie of the Month six times, becoming the first player to do so since Damian Lillard accomplished the feat during the 2012-13 season.
Second Team
| Player | Team | Total Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Justise Winslow | Heat | 151 |
| D'Angelo Russell | Lakers | 142 |
| Emmanuel Mudiay | Nuggets | 140 |
| Myles Turner | Pacers | 139 |
| Willie Cauley-Stein | Kings | 50 |
Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow headlines the All-Rookie second team, serving as arguably the best defender among first-year players.
The Miami Heat's Josh Richardson and Toronto Raptors' Norman Powell were the only Rookie of the Month winners to not make either team.