Fansided

NBA All-Rookie Teams: Snubs & Reactions

By Luke Dahlgren

Mar 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of the game at Target Center. Lakers defeated the Wolves 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of the game at Target Center. Lakers defeated the Wolves 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The NBA announced its 2014-15 All-Rookie First and Second Teams this afternoon, which feature Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins among other rising talents.

The NBA has a history of subbing players on their end of season All-Star teams. In consecutive seasons, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was left off the All-Defense team. In 2012, Tyson Chandler was left off the first team in favor of Dwight Howard after winning DPOY. Then, in an attempt to make it up to him the NBA snubbed Marc Gasol the same way, giving Gasol’s spot to Chandler.

No such controversy is here this year when the NBA announced their All-Rookie First and Second Teams this Monday afternoon.

Some quick thoughts:

The top four vote-getters make total sense. No way is the actual Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins not going to make the All-Rookie team. Nikola Mirotic was the most valuable crunch-time rookie, and he was a key figure for a legitimate playoff contender, which is more than can be said for the rest of the rookies. Nerlens Noel is one of the only 76ers who resembles an NBA player. And Elfrid Payton quickly emerged as a savvy future point guard for Orlando who should emerge as an above-average starter for the Magic.

More from Miscellaneous

However, Jordan Clarkson is a first-teamer? Certainly he deserved to receive votes for the second team, and if you consider the other options perhaps he was the best option to take the 2-guard role on the first team. It feels more comfortable having Clarkson over someone like Marcus Smart, but a weak rookie class boosted him up to the first team. (To be fair, I am nitpicking the first team, which is perfect).

Mirotic had an excellent rookie season as an impact player for a playoff team, but he sure did receive a lot of votes for someone who is so inefficient.

Noel was left off three ballots entirely. The only semi-logical explanation for this is that voters forgot that he spent all of last season injured and technically was a rookie this year. Not much of an excuse, but it’s a better one than thinking he didn’t deserve to be on either the first or second team.

There doesn’t appear to be any love for Rodney Hood, who should at least develop into a solid bench contributor with the Utah Jazz.

I’m happy that voters remembered the fact that Langston Galloway exists. Hopefully he’ll find time away from Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties to thank the voters.

More from Miscellaneous