Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero Highlights NBA All-Rookie First Team Which was announced on Monday.
Magic forwards include Thunder guard Jalen Williams, Jazz center Walker Kessler, Kings forward Keegan Murray and Pacers guard Benedict Maturin. were poor unanimous first-team selection, Williams received 99 of the 100 first-team votes, while Kesler received 95.
Bunchero, a 6-foot-10 forward from Duke, lead the team in Rookie of the Year balloting when he received 98 of the 100 first-place votes. He averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 72 games on the orlando team, while shooting 42.7% from the floor and 29.8% from 3-point distance, which saw a 14-win improvement over the previous season. The no. 1 overall pick in 2022 has so far justified the Magic in taking him in a draft with Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren also in top consideration.
Williams was 12th at Santa Clara. The 6-6 guard averaged 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 52.1% from the floor and 35.6% from 3-point distance. He worked his way into the starting lineup on a Thunder team that made an unlikely run in the play-in tournament. He is a vital part of a roster full of young talent that also includes first-time All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, second-year guard Josh Gide and Holmgren, who is 7-1 after missing the team. Hope to join. His rookie season ended with an injury to Lisfranc.
Kessler, a 7-1 center, was the No. 22 pick out of Auburn. He arrived in Utah from the Timberwolves in the trade for Rudy Gobert. He slotted well into Gobert's spot in the post, where he became an immediate defensive force, averaging 9.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He has a 72% shooting rate from the floor Highest by a rookie in NBA history,
Maturin was the No. 6 pick out of Arizona. A 6-6 small forward, he worked his way into Indiana's starting lineup at the end of the season, in which he averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.6 steals. Like Banchero, he would improve his efficiency in his second season after shooting 43.4% from the floor and 32.3% from 3-point distance as a rookie. He projects as the go-to wing scorer with a backcourt that includes Tyrese Halliburton and Buddy Held.
Murray was the No. 4 pick out of Iowa. He worked his way into a starting role on a loaded Kings roster that led Sacramento to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Going 6-8, Murray averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 41.1% from 3-point distance.
Pistons guard Jaden Ivey, Pistons center Jalen Duran, Rockets forward Jalen Smith, Jr., Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan and Rockets forward Tari Eason rounded out the All-Rookie Second Team.