Kyrie Irving playing defense. Courtesy of DukeBluePlanet
Less than a year after being the number one pick in the NBA draft, Cleveland Cavaliers guard and former Duke player Kyrie Irving was named the Kia Rookie of the Year in the NBA.
He received 117 first place votes from a panel of 120 sportwriters and broadcasters.
Among NBA rookies, Irving ranked first in scoring (18.5 points per game), field goal percentage (46.9%), and free throw percentage (87.2%). He was second in assists (5.4 assists per game) and three point field goal percentage (39.9%).
Among all NBA players, Irving was fourth in fourth quarter scoring (6.4 points).
Irving became just the fifth player ever to be drafted number one in the NBA draft and average at least 18 PPG and 5 APG. He joins Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, and LeBron James.
KIA Motors America will donate a new Kia Sorento CUV to the New Jersey Roadrunners, Irving’s former AAU team. They will also present a brand new Sorento to the charity of choice of each of five 2011-12 year-end award winners as part of the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.”
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