May 8, 2007

(TORONTO) -- The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday forwards Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa have been named to the 2007 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team. Bargnani was the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Garbajosa, a native of Madrid, Spain, joined the Raptors via free agency in July 2006. Rounding out the 2007 first team are Portland’s Brandon Roy, Minnesota’s Randy Foye, Memphis’ Rudy Gay and Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge.

Bargnani finished in the top 10 among rookies in seven of nine major statistical categories, including third in points per game (11.6) and fifth in minutes (25.1) and blocks (0.82). In January, he was named T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month after helping the Raptors to a 10-5 record, posting averages of 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 27.0 minutes in 14 games. He shot .410 (57-139) from the field and .394 (26-66) from three-point range during the month and led the team’s bench in scoring six times.

Bargnani became the third Raptor to receive multiple Rookie of the Month awards upon receiving the February honour. For the month, he posted averages of 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 28.7 minutes in 12 games. He shot .508 (62-of-122) from the field, .483 (29-of-60) from three-point range and .826 (19-of-23) from the line and led the team’s bench in scoring seven times.

Garbajosa finished the season fifth among rookies in rebounds (4.9 rpg) and posted a 1.22 steals-per-turnover ratio. He started 60 of his 67 games, contributing 8.5 points (eighth among rookies) in 28.5 minutes (third). Garbajosa’s 60 starts was the third most by a Raptors rookie in team history.

In December, Garbajosa was named the winner of the T-Mobile Eastern Conference Player of the Month. During the month, he helped the Raptors to an 8-8 record, posting averages of 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 34.8 minutes in 15 games. He shot .439 (69-157) from the field and .933 (14-15) from the line and led the team in rebounding four times.

Both Bargnani and Garbajosa were named to the rookie team for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge played during All-Star Weekend. Bargnani scored 12 points in 23 minutes, while Garbajosa totaled six points, four rebounds and four assists.

This marks the first time in franchise history that two Raptors have been named to the first team in the same season. In total, eight Raptors have been named to the All-Rookie First Team (Damon Stoudamire, 1996, Marcus Camby, 1997, Vince Carter, 1999, Morris Peterson, 2001, Chris Bosh, 2004 and Charlie Villanueva, 2006).

Since the NBA began selecting All-Rookie teams in 1962-63, two players from the same ballclub have made the First Team just 16 times.

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of Utah’s Paul Millsap (36), Charlotte’s Adam Morrison (35), Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas (26), Minnesota’s Craig Smith (21) and Boston’s Rajon Rondo (10), Charlotte’s Walter Hermann (10) and New Jersey’s Marcus Williams (10) all tied for the final spot on the second team.

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, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. At this year's competition during NBA All-Star 2007, T-Mobile, along with NBA Cares, hosted more than 6,000 area students in the lower bowl of the arena for a special night of watching some of the best basketball players in the world. This is a part of T-Mobile's continued efforts to connect kids to positive people, places and programs.

Below are the results of the balloting for the 2006-07 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie teams:

Player	Team	First (2 pt)	Second (1 Pt)	Total
Brandon Roy	Portland	29	-	58
Andrea Bargnani	Toronto	28	1	57
Randy Foye	Minnesota	21	6	48
Rudy Gay	Memphis	12	15	39
Jorge Garbajosa	Toronto	13	11	37 (tie)
LaMarcus Aldridge	Portland	14	9	37 (tie)

2006-07 T-Mobile NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

Player	Team	First (2 pt)	Second (1 Pt)	Total
Paul Millsap	Utah	10	16	36
Adam Morrison	Charlotte	12	11	35
Tyrus Thomas	Chicago	5	16	26
Craig Smith	Minnesota	1	19	21
Rajon Rondo	Boston	1	8	10 (tie)
Walter Hermann	Charlotte	1	8	10 (tie)
Marcus Williams	New Jersey	1	8	10 (tie)

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes): Tarence Kinsey, Memphis, 6 (1); Renaldo Balkman, New York, 5; Rodney Carney, Philadelphia, 5 (1); Sheldon Williams, Atlanta, 4; Allan Ray, Boston, 1; Thabo Sefolosha, Chicago, 1; Daniel Gibson, Cleveland, 1; Jordan Farmar, L.A. Lakers, 1; Josh Boone, New Jersey, 1; Sergio Rodriguez, Portland, 1.