ATLANTA, GA (May 4, 2006) -- The National Basketball Association today announced the 2005-06 T-Mobile All-Rookie Team and Atlanta’s Marvin Williams was selected to the second team. For the second straight year Atlanta is represented on the all-rookie unit, as Williams joins last year’s first round picks Josh Smith and Josh Childress in receiving that honor.

Showing steady improvement throughout his first year, Williams ranked among the top ten in several rookie categories – scoring (10th), rebounding (7th), field goal percentage (10th) and minutes played (7th). In 79 appearances (he started in seven games), he tallied 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. As a starter, Williams finished with 9.9 ppg, 6.4 apg and 1.4 apg.

“I think it’s a heck of an accomplishment given the fact we didn’t play him a lot early in the season,” said Hawks head coach Mike Woodson. “Marvin worked hard over the course of the year, improving month after month and his hard work was noticed by those who voted. He was a good, young professional who started to figure out the NBA game and he will only get better. I’m very proud of what he was able to accomplish and I’m sure he will continue to improve his game this summer as he returns for his second year.”

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets guard Chris Paul’s unanimous First Team selection highlights the talented group of rookies named to the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Team, as he is joined by Toronto’s Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut, Utah’s Deron Williams and New York’s Channing Frye.

The second team consists of Williams, Indiana’s Danny Granger, Charlotte’s Raymond Felton, Houston’s Luther Head and Boston’s Ryan Gomes.

Williams elevated his scoring average in each of his six months of action – 5.5 ppg in November, 6.2 in December, 8.5 in January, 9.3 in February, 10.4 in March and 12.3 in April – and aside from a mini-dip with his rebounding average in February, accomplished the same type of results in that category (4.0 rpg in November, 4.6 in December and February, 4.8 in January, 5.3 in March and 6.1 in April).

“It is definitely an accomplishment I’m proud to receive, and it’s quite a blessing,” said Williams, who is spending his off-season attending classes and working out at the University of North Carolina. “I think it is safe to say I got off to a slow start, but I feel I progressed and improved my game with the help of my teammates and coaches. I would like to thank those who considered me for this honor, and it certainly gives me the incentive to continue to work hard this summer and improve my skills as me and my teammates get ready for 2006-07.”

Williams scored a career-high 26 points in a December 20th road game at Miami and recorded four double-doubles (pts/rebs) on the year, in addition to finishing fifth on the team in scoring and eighth in rebounds.

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.

2005-06 T-Mobile NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM
Chris Paul - New Orleans
Charlie Villanueva - Toronto
Andrew Bogut - Milwaukee
Deron Williams - Utah
Channing Frye - New York

2005-06 T-Mobile NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM
Danny Granger - Indiana
Raymond Felton - Charlotte
Luther Head - Houston
Marvin Williams - Atlanta
Ryan Gomes - Boston

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes): Sarunas Jasikevicius, Indiana, 12 (1); Ike Diogu, Golden State, 8; Nate Robinson, New York, 7; Rashad McCants, Minnesota, 6; Johan Petro, Seattle, 6; Jose Calderon, Toronto, 3; Jarrett Jack, Portland, 3; Joey Graham, Toronto, 2; Martell Webster, Portland, 2; Salim Stoudamire, Atlanta, 1.