And the NBA Rookie of the Year award goes to.... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

sixate · 04-20-2004, 10:06 AM

LINKY

Quote:

James is NBA Rookie of the Year; Anthony second

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
April 20, 2004

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James won the NBA Rookie of the Year award Tuesday, capping a remarkable season in which he revived the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 19-year-old guard more than lived up to unprecedented hype in jumping straight from high school to the pros, becoming the youngest player to receive the award.

James, last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, beat out Denver's Carmelo Anthony, his close friend. Anthony, also 19, played one season of college basketball, leading Syracuse to the NCAA championship.

At a news conference at Gund Arena, James thanked Anthony.

``I really felt like it was going to be a close race,'' James said. ``He had a phenomenal season also.''

James received 508 points, including 78 of a possible 118 first-place votes, to become the first Cleveland rookie honored.

Anthony finished with 430 points -- with the other 40 first-place votes -- in balloting by sports writers and broadcasters. Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat was third with 117 points.

Players received 5 points for a first-place vote, 3 for second and 1 for third. Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, Toronto's Chris Bosh and Dallas' Marquis Daniels also got votes.

James was to receive his trophy Tuesday night at the NBA Store in New York.

The Associated Press reported Saturday, citing a source, that James would win the award.

Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns won last season's award, becoming the first player to do so after turning pro directly from high school.

James came straight out of high school, too. But that's where the similarities end.

No player entered the league with as much fanfare as James, and no player was expected to do as much. And the Akron native delivered.

He averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only NBA rookies to average at least 20-5-5.

``He proved to all of us that he is up for a challenge. He exceeded all of our expectations and just kept raising the bar,'' Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund said.

Anthony had similar numbers (21 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists) and led the Nuggets to the playoffs a year after they went 17-65.

The Cavaliers had the same record last season. With James, they went 35-47 and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of the playoffs.

``He put us on his back,'' forward Carlos Boozer said last week. ``At the beginning, people were almost hoping he'd fail. He didn't. Not only that, he did everything with a smile.''

James helped the Cavs' average home attendance jump from 11,497 to 18,288 -- the highest increase in history for a team that didn't move into a new building.

First, they get defensive player right, now ROY. All that's left is to hand Garnett the MVP, and Randolf the most improved.

I know LeBron and Melo have similar stats, but the simple fact is anyone who really knows hoops can see LeBron is just a better player. There's just something about him that nobody else has. Now all the Cavs need to do is get a little more help on that squad and the Cavs will be a force in the East.

cameroncrazy822 · 04-20-2004, 10:19 AM

Yeah I couldn't have said it better myself.... LeBron is incredibly and Carmelo is too but King James is at the next level and in my humble estimation will continue to push that level of ability as MJ did. We'll have to wait and see though.

Bookman · 04-20-2004, 10:47 AM

I will protest this ROY award until about 7:59 when the Knicks and Nets Tip off.
LeBron has much more potential yet he DID NOT have a better year than CarMelo..this is the ROY award not who is better award.

People are starstruck and the NBA is a coorporation who needs to pump LeBron down our throats....no thank you..I like winners.

jasonresno · 04-21-2004, 05:51 PM

OK if we are going by better player: lebron
More potential: lebron
more talent: lebron
court vision: lebron
higher expectations: lebron

djtestudo · 04-21-2004, 05:54 PM

More difficult position: LeBron
More with a worse team: LeBron
More important stats: LeBron

bond007 · 04-22-2004, 10:00 AM

LeBron had the better season, Carmelo had the better team.

jasonresno · 04-22-2004, 04:33 PM

and ROY is based on the better player. thus lebron

Ace_O_Spades · 04-22-2004, 04:45 PM

wasnt there already a thread about this?

Bookman · 04-23-2004, 04:39 AM

You guys are so far up LeBron's *ss it isnt funny.
The better team argument can be questioned.
The better stats argument can be questioned (can you say MidWest Division?).
Hype does not count...IMPACT counts.
The only person who was present each game for Denver was....MELO.

04-21-2004, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	More difficult position: LeBron More with a worse team: LeBron More important stats: LeBron __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

04-22-2004, 04:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	wasnt there already a thread about this? __________________ Feh.

04-20-2004, 10:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
cameroncrazy822 Junkie Location: MD	Yeah I couldn't have said it better myself.... LeBron is incredibly and Carmelo is too but King James is at the next level and in my humble estimation will continue to push that level of ability as MJ did. We'll have to wait and see though.

04-20-2004, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bookman Insane	I will protest this ROY award until about 7:59 when the Knicks and Nets Tip off. LeBron has much more potential yet he DID NOT have a better year than CarMelo..this is the ROY award not who is better award. People are starstruck and the NBA is a coorporation who needs to pump LeBron down our throats....no thank you..I like winners.

04-21-2004, 05:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
jasonresno Banned	OK if we are going by better player: lebron More potential: lebron more talent: lebron court vision: lebron higher expectations: lebron

04-22-2004, 10:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
bond007 Junkie Location: too far from Texas	LeBron had the better season, Carmelo had the better team.

04-22-2004, 04:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
jasonresno Banned	and ROY is based on the better player. thus lebron

04-23-2004, 04:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bookman Insane	You guys are so far up LeBron's *ss it isnt funny. The better team argument can be questioned. The better stats argument can be questioned (can you say MidWest Division?). Hype does not count...IMPACT counts. The only person who was present each game for Denver was....MELO.