May 3, 200520 yr http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2052460 Okafor edges former UConn teammate Gordon Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte forward Emeka Okafor has won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, narrowly beating best friend Ben Gordon of Chicago Bulls, a Bobcats source told The Associated Press. The award will be announced Wednesday. The Bobcats have called a news conference for what they have only called "a major announcement." Okafor, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, led all rookies in scoring (15.9 points per game) and rebounding (10.9 rpg) and was second in his class behind Atlanta's Josh Smith in blocks (1.71). He also ranked second in the NBA with 3.8 offensive rebounds per game. He ended his season with 47 games in double figures in both points and rebounds. But Okafor spent the final months in a close battle with Gordon, his best friend and roommate while the two led Connecticut to the NCAA championship. Both left UConn for the NBA following the 2004 title, and they went Nos. 2 and 3 in the draft. Gordon became a sparkplug for the Bulls off the bench while helping them into the postseason for the first time since Michael Jordan's retirement. Okafor played under tremendous pressure the entire season as the face of the expansion Bobcats. Charlotte traded up in the draft for a chance to pick him, hoping to make him the cornerstone of their franchise. Even with a limited supporting cast, Okafor was able to help the Bobcats to 18 wins despite preseason predictions that Charlotte would be the worst team in NBA history. He helped the Bobcats to two wins over Detroit, the defending NBA champions, as well as victories over Miami and Houston. After the season-ending win over the Pistons, Okafor said he enjoyed his rookie season. "With an expansion team, I knew that things would be different, but I didn't have anything to compare it to," he said. "I've had a pretty enjoyable experience. I can't complain at all. I've had a great time in Charlotte this year and its only going to get better. The future is looking bright."
May 3, 200520 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2005 -> 07:17 PM) I still think Howard should have taken 2nd place. No question about it.
May 3, 200520 yr QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ May 3, 2005 -> 01:23 PM) No question about it. I think you just have an obsession with big black guys
May 3, 200520 yr QUOTE(rangercal @ May 3, 2005 -> 07:36 PM) I think you just have an obsession with big black guys You act as if there's something wrong with that.
May 3, 200520 yr QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ May 3, 2005 -> 01:37 PM) You act as if there's something wrong with that.
May 3, 200520 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2005 -> 02:17 PM) I still think Howard should have taken 2nd place. A bunch of single-digit games...barely averaged double digit boards...barely...20th in the league in blocks isn't exactly eye-catching...3rd/4th option on the team... He'll be good, but he isn't there yet. Ben won a lot more games for the Bulls than howard did for the magic. His 4th quarters stand out a lot more than anything howard did. They got it right.
May 3, 200520 yr Its still a pretty tough argument to take Ben Gordon 15 ppg 2.3 rpg 2 apg over Dwight Howard 12 ppg 10 rpg 1.66 bpg But hey, Gordon helped lead his team to the playoffs, so I'm not really in complete disagreement with Gordon 2nd.
May 3, 200520 yr Since when does second place matter for ROY??? No sense in discussing who should have gotten second and third. But IMO Gordon is more valuable to his team than Howard is to the Magic..
May 3, 200520 yr it was the right choice, he was anchoring an expansion team and did a fairly decent job
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ May 4, 2005 -> 09:54 AM) Since when does second place matter for ROY??? No sense in discussing who should have gotten second and third. But IMO Gordon is more valuable to his team than Howard is to the Magic.. I guess the argument there is how can Gordon be more valuable if he's not starting? And Sleepy, yes Howard was the 3rd option on his team, because well you expect that coming out of high school. But if you have a look at his post all - star stats, he would have been a worth ROY in my eyes. Frankly, he didn't pretty welll to just average double digits with Steve Francis on his team.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 3, 2005 -> 06:03 PM) I guess the argument there is how can Gordon be more valuable if he's not starting? Fair enough, it is tough for Howard to be a star right away, especially with Stevie Franchise on his team.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 3, 2005 -> 07:03 PM) I guess the argument there is how can Gordon be more valuable if he's not starting? And Sleepy, yes Howard was the 3rd option on his team, because well you expect that coming out of high school. But if you have a look at his post all - star stats, he would have been a worth ROY in my eyes. Frankly, he didn't pretty welll to just average double digits with Steve Francis on his team. By the way, in what place was the magic at the all-star break and where were they at the end of the season? Those post-all-star numbers don't seem to have helped much. But yeah, there's not much to argue. I just think the voting was right. Howard will probably be a star too anyways...
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ May 3, 2005 -> 06:54 PM) Since when does second place matter for ROY??? No sense in discussing who should have gotten second and third. But IMO Gordon is more valuable to his team than Howard is to the Magic.. The award isn't for the rookie that is most valuable to his team. This isn't the MVP award. Rookie of the year, is for the best rookie season.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ May 4, 2005 -> 10:25 AM) By the way, in what place was the magic at the all-star break and where were they at the end of the season? Those post-all-star numbers don't seem to have helped much. But yeah, there's not much to argue. I just think the voting was right. Howard will probably be a star too anyways... You lose Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Doug Christie from your lineup, and Steve Francis for a few games and yes you will struggle. That's because the Magic aren't at all deep, unlike the Bulls.
May 4, 200520 yr I'm cool with Okafor getting it. He's definitely worthy. I just felt Ben should've gotten it because of the impact he had for his team. But atleast he got 6th man.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 3, 2005 -> 08:27 PM) You lose Grant Hill, Hedo Turkoglu, Doug Christie from your lineup, and Steve Francis for a few games and yes you will struggle. That's because the Magic aren't at all deep, unlike the Bulls. Might that be why his numbers improved too?
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ May 4, 2005 -> 04:51 PM) Might that be why his numbers improved too? That and Chris Jent wanted the offense to run through him so he could get 15 shots a game instead of 8, and most of his points came from put backs etc. Who cares, he's easily going to be the best player in the long run.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(DBAH0 @ May 4, 2005 -> 02:35 AM) That and Chris Jent wanted the offense to run through him so he could get 15 shots a game instead of 8, and most of his points came from put backs etc. Who cares, he's easily going to be the best player in the long run. Some of the other high-schoolers have shown potential too...
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ May 4, 2005 -> 05:51 PM) Some of the other high-schoolers have shown potential too... Sure like Shawn Livingston who's going to be one heck of a PG when he bulks up. But Dwight is a man child already, and will grow to over 7 feet. He's the next Tim Duncan with a little KG in him.
May 4, 200520 yr QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2005 -> 03:17 PM) I still think Howard should have taken 2nd place. Yes.....right behind Gordon.
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