Nets center Brook Lopez finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting, behind winner Derrick Rose of the Bulls and runner-up O.J. Mayo of the Grizzlies.
Lopez received two first-place votes and 127 points total, trailing Rose (111; 574) and Mayo (5; 246) and ahead of Russell Westbrook of the Thunder (2; 73).
Lopez averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds while playing all 82 games this season. He was the 10th overall pick out of Stanford.
Earlier this month, Lopez said if he had a vote he would give it to Rose, then Westbrook.
“Derrick’s changed his team so much, they’re definitely [in it] for the playoffs,” Lopez said then. “And between [Kevin] Durant and Russ, Oklahoma City has obviously improved over the course of the season.”
Nets coach Lawrence Frank endorsed his player.
“We strongly believe he’s one of the top rookies in the league, that he’s made great progress, that he’s had a great rookie year, that he has huge upside,” Frank said. “Obviously we know Rose is on a very high level. They play the two toughest positions — one’s a point guard, one’s a center. Both have had tremendous years.”
Rose became the third Bulls player to win the award, joining Michael Jordan and Elton Brand.
Rose’s selection was hardly a surprise, after the No. 1 overall draft pick led all rookies with 6.3 assists per game and was second in scoring average at 16.8, and established himself as the franchise’s first true cornerstone since Jordan.
“I think there are very few people in the NBA who could do what he did this year,” teammate Joakim Noah said. “You tell me another No. 1 pick who got to the playoffs in their hometown, especially in a big city with so many distractions and so many things going on. I mean, he’s all about one thing and that’s winning basketball games, and that’s what I respect about him.”
A point guard from Chicago’s South Side, Rose used his strength, blinding quickness and uncanny maturity to help turn around a team that went 33-49 last season.
Rose’s approach, as much as his talent, also impressed veteran guard Lindsey Hunter.
“Not many guys can transfer it from here to there that fast,” Hunter said, pointing from his head to the court. “But he’s able to do that. I think that’s what’s so unique about him.”