For the first time in NBA history, a second-round pick has won the Rookie of the Year Award.
On Monday night, Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon was named rookie of the year at the inaugural NBA Awards in New York City. When he was announced as the winner ahead of Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, Brogdon celebrated the moment with his mother, team owners Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan as well as Bucks president Peter Feigin before heading up to the stage.
While on stage, last year's 36th pick _ the lowest draft pick to win the award since Woody Sauldsberry, the 60th pick, won the award in 1958 _ thanked his mother and God before sharing his appreciation for the Bucks. Brogdon also addressed the numerous other players like himself who were undervalued heading into the NBA.
"They believe in me, they've given me a tremendous opportunity and it's been a great year," Brogdon said. "I think this is a testament to the whole organization.
"The last thing is, I want to say this is a testament to guys that are underestimated, guys that are second-round picks, guys that are undrafted every year that are looked over regardless of the work they put in, regardless of what they do. You can always achieve your dreams if you have faith, if you have sacrifice; you sacrifice for what you want. A lot of the time you're not going to fit in, a lot of the time you're going to have to skip those parties, you're going to have to do things other people aren't doing to get to where you want to be. So I just want to say thank you to everybody."
Brogdon averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range. His assists and steals per game were the most among rookies while his 3-point and free-throw percentages (86.5 percent) ranked second.
Earlier in the day, the NBA announced its All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams in advance of its prime-time awards and each featured a representative from the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a second team All-NBA selection and one of three finalists for the most improved player award, earned a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive second team. He received seven first-team votes and 21 second-team votes from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, which gave him 35 points _ enough for the final forward spot on the second team.
Milwaukee's first All-Defensive team selection since Alvin Robertson in 1991, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points, assists, rebounds, blocked shots and steals and ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in each of those categories _ something that had never been done in league history. Overall, the 6-foot-11 point-forward ranked fifth in the NBA in blocks (151), ninth in steals (131), ninth in defensive win shares (4.5) and 13th in defensive rebounds (558).
The NBA All-Defensive first team included Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverly. Joining Antetokounmpo on the second team were Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, Spurs guard Danny Green, New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson.
Brogdon was a unanimous selection to the league's All-Rookie team. He was joined on that team by Saric and Embiid, with Saric also a unanimous pick. Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield and New York Knicks center Willie Hernangomez filled out the rest of the first team.
With his selection, Brogdon became Milwaukee's first All-Rookie team selection since 2014 when Antetokounmpo made the second team. The Bucks' last first team selection was Brandon Jennings in 2010.
