NEW YORK, April 20 – LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers will receive the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2003-04 got milk? Rookie of the Year, the NBA announced today.
James received a total of 508 points, including 78 first-place votes out of a possible 118, from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. Denver’s Carmelo Anthony finished a close second with 430 points and Miami’s Dwyane Wade was third with 117 points.
The first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, James was in the top five among rookies in all major statistical categories. He led all rookies in steals (1.65 spg), was second in scoring (20.9 ppg), third in assists (5.9 apg) and fifth in rebounding (5.5 rpg). James joins NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average more than 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in their rookie season. The 19-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points when he recorded 41 on March 27 vs. New Jersey. James helped the Cavaliers (35-47) more than double last season's total of 17 wins.
James is the only player in Cleveland Cavaliers history to be named the got milk? Rookie of the Year and is the youngest player in NBA history to capture the honor. James and Anthony become only the third and fourth rookies in NBA history to receive the got milk? Rookie of the Month honors every month of their inaugural season, joining San Antonio Spurs greats David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).
Kurt Graetzer, CEO of Milk Processor Education Program Board, will officially present James with the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy at the NBA Store live on TNT during halftime of the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets playoff game on Tuesday, April 20.
The Eddie Gottlieb Trophy is named in honor of Eddie Gottlieb, one of the NBA’s founders who coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the NBA championship in 1946-47.
Following are the voting results for this year’s got milk? Rookie of the Year Award winners: