Young named to NBA's All-Rookie Second Team

By John McMullen

(The Phanatic Magazine) - Seattle SuperSonics swingman Kevin Durant, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, and Atlanta Hawks big man Al Horford headlined the NBA's All-Rookie team, announced on Tuesday.

Horford, the runner-up to Durant for Rookie of the Year honors, was the only unanimous selection on the team, receiving 58 points, while Durant compiled 57.

Horford averaged nearly a double-double during his freshman season, turning in 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, while Durant led all rookies in scoring at 20.3 points per game.

"This year's rookie class is loaded with talent, so making the All-Rookie First Team is a great accomplishment," said Horford. "This honor adds to the successful season my teammates and I just experienced, and I look forward to seeing our team build on this in the future."

Houston's Luis Scola, the Los Angeles Clippers' Al Thornton and Seattle's Jeff Green rounded out the first team.

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consisted of Jamario Moon of the Toronto Raptors, Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro, The Sixers' Thaddeus Young, Detroit's Rodney Stuckey and Houston's Carl Landry.

This past season, Young appeared in 74 games, averaging 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.99 steals in 21.0 minutes per game.

He started 22 of the final 38 games, averaging 10.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in those starts. Young also started all six games for Philadelphia in the playoffs, averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.17 steals in 26.7 minutes per game.

"On behalf of the 76ers, we want to congratulate Thaddeus on earning this recognition," said general manager Ed Stefanski. "The progress that Thaddeus made during the course of his first NBA season reflects not only the talent he possesses, but also his disciplined work ethic and determination to succeed."

Young joins Andre Iguodala as just the second Sixers' rookie to be named to an All-Rookie team dating back to the 1998-99 season. Iguodala earned First Team honors in 2004-05.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA's 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position.

The coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.