University of Connecticut Athletics
Okafor and Gordon Headline All-Rookie Squad
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK (AP, May 5, 2005) — Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor and Sixth Man award winner Ben Gordon were unanimous choices for the NBA All-Rookie team announced Thursday.
Charlotte center Okafor, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, and Chicago guard Gordon led all rookies in scoring with 15.1 points per game. Orlando's Dwight Howard joined Okafor and Gordon as unanimous selections with 58 points in balloting by the league's head coaches.
Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala (56) and Chicago's Luol Deng (33) also made the team.
Okafor led all rookies in rebounding (10.9) and minutes played (35.6).
Gordon shot 41% from the field and scored 10 or more points in the fourth quarter 21 times to help lead the Bulls to their first playoff appearance since 1998.
Howard, the top pick in the draft, ranked in the top five in six statistical categories.
The All-Rookie second team was New Jersey's Nenad Krstic, Atlanta's Josh Smith and Josh Childress, Orlando's Jameer Nelson and Boston's Al Jefferson.
