Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center and 2015-16 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns has been named to the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced earlier today. Towns was a unanimous choice, receiving 130 First Team votes for a total of 260 points.
Towns led all qualified rookies in scoring (18.3 ppg), rebounding (10.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.542), double-doubles (51) and minutes (32.0 mpg), and was second in blocks (1.68 bpg) and third in free throw percentage (.811). He was the only rookie, and one of just 18 players, to start all 82 games this season. Among all players, Towns finished eighth in rebounding and shooting percentage, 10th in blocks and second in point/rebound double-doubles.
Towns was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month all six months this season, making him the eighth player since the award’s inception (1981-82 season) to win six consecutive Rookie of the Month honors: Damian Lillard in 2012-13, Blake Griffin in 2010-11, Chris Paul in 2005-06, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James in 2003-04, Tim Duncan in 1997-98 and David Robinson in 1989-90.
The 7-0 forward/center was chosen as the Western Conference Player of the Week for April 4-10, the first Wolves rookie to be honored with such an award. Towns was Minnesota's leading rebounder 63 times and top scorer on 27 occasions; he had 32 games with 20+ points among his 73 double-figure efforts. He sank the game-winning jumper with :01.8 to play April 9 at Portland. Towns posted season highs in rebounds (21) and assists (nine) April 3 vs. Dallas, becoming the NBA's first rookie to collect at least 21 rebounds and nine assists in the same game since Elgin Baylor (Feb. 9, 1959 vs. New York). The 21 rebounds tied Gorgui Dieng's club rookie record, while his 18 defensive boards broke Christian Laettner's franchise rookie mark. Towns led all scorers with 32 points March 18 at Houston, his fourth 30+ scoring effort. He collected 30 points and 15 rebounds Feb. 27 at New Orleans, the first 30/15 outing by a rookie since Blake Griffin in March 2011. Towns won the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on Feb. 13 and played in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 12 as part of All-Star Weekend in Toronto. Towns set Wolves’ season rookie records for points (1503), rebounds (855) and blocks (138).
The voting panel consisted of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.
Towns joins Pooh Richardson, Christian Laettner, Isaiah Rider, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, Randy Foye, Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins as Wolves rookies to earn All-Rookie First Team honors.
Below are the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:
[[{"fid":"55381","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default"}}]]