Team decided by NBA head coaches

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez was named to the 2008-09 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team, it was announced today by a vote of NBA head coaches.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Rudy and an acknowledgment of the role he's played in our success,” said Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. “We're very proud of the way our rookies have stepped up and contributed this season.”

Fernandez, 24, averaged 10.4 points and 2.7 rebounds, while ranking in the top-10 among rookie leaders in assists (2.0), three-point shooting (39.9%) and steals (0.88). A leader on Spain’s silver-medal team at the 2008 Olympics, Fernandez scored in double figures in 45 games and led the bench in scoring 23 times in his first year in Portland.

With a career-high six three-pointers in the regular season finale vs. Denver on Apr. 15, Fernandez broke the NBA rookie record for three-pointers in a season with 159. He also set NBA rookie records by making a three-pointer in 33 consecutive games from Dec. 7 to Feb. 22 and by hitting a long ball in each of his first 20 career NBA games.

Fernandez competed in the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam and the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk at All-Star Weekend.

Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Memphis’ O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, New Jersey’s Brook Lopez and Miami’s Michael Beasley were named to the 2008-09 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Joining Fernandez on the 2008-09 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team are the L.A. Clippers’ Eric Gordon, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Miami’s Mario Chalmers, Memphis’ Marc Gasol and Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin.