While Tim Duncan of San Antonio and Keith Van Horn of New Jersey were unanimous choices on the NBA All-Rookie team Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the first two teams with a total of four players.
The Cavaliers didn't have a rookie as proficient as Duncan or Van Horn, but their rookies played key roles in helping Cleveland make the playoffs.Duncan and Van Horn, both forwards, were joined on the first team by guard Brevin Knight and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, both of Cleveland, and guard Ron Mercer of the Boston Celtics.
Duncan and Van Horn each had the maximum 56 points in voting by the league's 29 head coaches. They were followed by Knight (54), Ilgauskas (51) and Mercer (50).
Cleveland's two players on the second team were Cedric Henderson (27) and Derek Anderson (25).
The second team also included Philadelphia's Tim Thomas (30), the Los Angeles Clippers' Maurice Taylor (25) and Denver's Bobby Jackson (18).
Duncan, the No. 1 choice in last summer's draft, and Van Horn, drafted No. 2 by Philadelphia and then traded to the Nets, each was selected on the maximum 28 first-place ballots. Knight was on 26, Ilgauskas 25 and Mercer 23. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
The Spurs were eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday night by the Utah Jazz.
"It was a great experience and a great year for me. I just hope to have many more," Duncan said.
While conventional wisdom might question any NBA team putting four rookies in key roles, it worked for Cleveland.
"We had a chance to learn and grow together right from the beginning," Knight said.
Knight, who averaged nine points and about eight assists per game, said Cavs coach Mike Fra-tello "told me to go out and lead the team and do what I was capable of doing. At the beginning, he let me make mistakes. As the season went on, his expectations of me grew, just like my own grew. I think he did a great job bringing me along."
Fratello likes his team's potential, having given so much playing time to rookies.