ATLANTA’S HORFORD HEADLINES THE
2007-08 T-MOBILE NBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Hawks rookie center was the only unanimous First Team selection

ATLANTA, GA (May 13, 2008) -- Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford, the runner-up for the 2007-08 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year award, was the only unanimous selection on the 2007-08 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Team, the league announced today.

Horford received 58 votes, while Seattle’s Kevin Durant, winner of the 2007-08 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year award, received a total of 57 votes.

Rounding out the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team are Houston’s Luis Scola (53 points), the Los Angeles Clippers’ Al Thornton (48 points) and Seattle’s Jeff Green (43 points).

Horford nearly averaged a double-double during his first year on the court, turning in 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, while shooting .499 from the field, en route to leading the Hawks to the postseason for the first time in nine seasons. He saw action in 81 games, starting 77 times.

In seven games against the Boston Celtics, the 6-10 rookie, who finished fifth amongst Atlanta scorers in the regular season, was the team’s third-leading scorer in the playoffs with a 12.6 ppg average. He earned that double-double by increasing his rebounding average and leading the Hawks with 10.4 rpg.

“This year's rookie class is loaded with talent, so making the All-Rookie First Team is a great accomplishment,” said Horford, in-between summer classes at the University of Florida. “This honor adds to the successful season my teammates and I just experienced, and I look forward to seeing our team built on this in the future. I enjoyed this season a great deal and I want to thank those who thought I was worthy of making the first team."

A three-time T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, February and March), Horford ranked first among rookies in double doubles (25), as well as rebounds (9.7 rpg), which was 13th among all NBA players. Among first year players, Horford also finished sixth in scoring (10.1 ppg). Horford represented the Hawks in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, finishing with 19 points, and seven rebounds.

Despite playing out of his natural power forward position, Horford was everything the Hawks hoped for and more, as the rookie led the team in rebounding, was second in blocks and field goal percentage, and fifth in steals. He scored a season-high 20 points on two occasions and pulled down a season-best 20 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers – the first 20-rebound game by a Hawk since Alan Henderson’s 21 in the 2002-03 campaign.

“I think it’s great,” said Hawks head coach Mike Woodson. “It’s the first time one of my players has earned this honor and he is most deserving. Al was instrumental in helping us reach the postseason, and night after night, he proved his worth in our league. He’s been exemplary on and off the court, and I can’t help but think he’s going to continue to improve.”

Horford also took home the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of February.

A five-time T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month selection (November, December, January, March and April), Durant averaged a rookie – and team-high 20.3 points -- 7.6 points higher than any other rookie -- to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 80 games (all starts). Durant was the only rookie to lead his team in five statistical categories, including points, blocks, steals, free throws made and free throw percentage. Durant also blocked more shots than any other guard in the league (75). He represented the SuperSonics in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, finishing with 23 points and eight rebounds.

Among rookies, Scola ranked second in both rebounds (6.4 rpg) and double-doubles (10). Thornton finished second in scoring (12.7 ppg) and Green finished fourth (10.5 ppg).

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of former D-League player, Jamario Moon of the Toronto Raptors (38), Memphis’ Juan Carlos Navarro (24), Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young (23), Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey (22) and Houston’s Carl Landry (18).

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation's youth and as the Official Wireless Services Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA's youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the NBA's Rookie program. Highlights include rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, T-Mobile Rookie of the Month Awards, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2008, T-Mobile Huddle Up and NBA Cares hosted more than 5,000 local students in the lower bowl of the arena to watch this year’s Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. This is a part of T-Mobile's continued efforts to connect kids to positive people, places and programs.