NBA rookie of the year? It's not Embiid or Saric
Malcolm Brogdon of the Bucks won the award. The two Sixers made the all-rookie team.
NEW YORK - The 76ers had two of the three finalists for NBA rookie of the year award, but Milwaukee's Malcolm Brogdon was named the winner over Dario Saric and Joel Embiid during the inaugural NBA awards show Monday night at Basketball City.
The award winners were voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from around the world.
"It was a nice experience for me to be part of this kind of show," Saric said afterward. "Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win, but it was a pleasure to be here."
A 6-foot-5 guard out of Virginia, Brogdon averaged 10.2 points and led all rookies in assists (4.2 per game) and steals (1.12). He shot 40.4 percent from three point range.
Brogdon was a second-round pick, selected 36th overall after his senior year at Virginia. He became the first non-first-round pick to win rookie of the year since the beginning of the common draft era in 1966.
"I think it's an example for guys that are told they are too short, they are not athletic enough, they are not real point guards, they are not real shooting guards," Brogdon said. "I just think it's an important message for people to see, and it can be done."
Embiid, who did not attend Monday's event, played just 31 games and his final appearance was Jan. 27 against the Houston Rockets. He was sidelined with a torn meniscus and a bone bruise on his left knee and eventually required surgery.
In just 25.4 minutes per game, Embiid averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.1 assists.
Saric averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while appearing in 81 of 82 games. After Embiid's final game, Saric went on to average 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in his final 36 contests. The 6-foot-10 Croatian power forward was named NBA's Eastern Conference rookie of the month in February and March.
"Before the season, I didn't expect to be here," Saric said, "but as the season ended I got expectations and thought I could win this award."
Earlier Monday, Saric and Embiid were named to the NBA's all-rookie team. The Sixers became the first team to have two all-rookie first-team selections since the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2008 with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.
Saric and Brogdon were unanimous choices, earning all 100 first-place votes from the panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The other two first-team all-rookie selections were Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield and New York Knicks center Wily Hernangomez.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook was named the NBA's MVP. In other awards, Houston's Eric Gordon was named sixth man of the year. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki was the Twyman-Stokes teammate of the year and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo won the most improved award.
The NBA Cares community assist award went to Boston's Isaiah Thomas. Charlotte's Kemba Walker earned the NBA sportsmanship award. Houston's Mike D'Antoni, who was an assistant in 2015-16 with the Sixers, was coach of the year.
Golden State's Draymond Green was defensive player of the year. The Sager Strong Award went to Monty Williams. Golden State's Bob Myers was executive of the year. Houston's Patrick Beverly won the hustle award.
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