Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng has been named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the National Basketball Association announced earlier today.
Originally acquired by the Wolves in a draft-day trade with the Utah Jazz, Dieng averaged 4.8 points on 49.8% shooting and 5.0 rebounds in 60 games (15 starts) last season. He started 15 of Minnesota's final 18 games of the season, averaging 12.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game during the stretch.
Dieng made his first career start on Mar. 16, scoring 12 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking five shots to become the first player to record 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ blocks in his first NBA start since Elden Campbell in 1991. Two games later Dieng posted a 22-point, 21-rebound effort against Houston, just the sixth player since 1970 to record a 20+ point, 20+ rebound game within his first three career starts. Dieng is just the fourth rookie in the past 20 years to tally a 20/20 game (Joe Smith, Tim Duncan, DeJuan Blair).
The voting panel consisted of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.
Dieng joins Felton Spencer, Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams as Wolves rookies to earn All-Rookie Second Team honors.
Below are the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:
2013-14 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM
Player Team First (2 pt) Second (1 Pt) Total
Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 125 - 250
Victor Oladipo Orlando 124 - 248
Trey Burke Utah 108 14 230
Mason Plumlee Brooklyn 95 24 214
Tim Hardaway Jr. New York 87 30 204
2013-14 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM
Player Team First (2 pt) Second (1 Pt) Total
Kelly Olynyk Boston 19 81 119
Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee 15 86 116
Gorgui Dieng Minnesota 21 54 96
Cody Zeller Charlotte 3 61 67
Steven Adams Oklahoma City 9 47 65