Did Al Horford Get Snubbed Out Of Rookie Award?

[Faberg]

Hawks coach sure thinks so.

Hawks coach Mike Woodson was irate Wednesday that center Al Horford didn't at least share the NBA Rookie of the Year award with the Seattle SuperSonics' Kevin Durant.

Al Horford

Horford

"It's a travesty and it's not right," Woodson said Wednesday night before Atlanta's Game 5 loss to Boston, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He should have shared it, if not gotten it outright. And I don't want to hear about us not being on TV or anything like that. It doesn't matter. It's what this kid has done for this team.

Horford averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, helping the Hawks back to the NBA playoffs for the first time in nine years.

"We haven't had a power forward/center come in our league and do what he's done [average a double-double] in I don't know how many years," Woodson said. "I mean, come on, man."

Durant, officially announced for the honor Thursday, is the bright spot on a dismal basketball scene in Seattle. The Sonics won only 20 games and are expected to move to Oklahoma City as soon as next season.

The 19-year-old is the first Seattle player to win the award, which was widely reported on Wednesday. He joins a legacy that includes Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Durant lived up to expectations after being the national college player of the year at Texas and the No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft.

He averaged 20.3 points and was named Western Conference rookie of the month five times. He beat out Horford and Houston's Luis Scola for the annual award.

Seattle has a trial date next month, its effort to make the Sonics play inside KeyArena for the final two seasons of their lease.

"It's good to shine some light on our team. You know, a lot of people aren't real fond of our team right now," Durant said Thursday.

Durant recently purchased a home in suburban Seattle. His mother, Wanda Pratt, lives with him. She and Durant's father, Wayne Pratt, joined four other family members at Thursday's announcement.

"I love Seattle. My home's here. My mother's here," Durant said, acknowledging where he plays next season is far out of his control.

Durant received 90 first-place votes (545 points) from a panel of 125 writers and broadcasters. Horford finished second with 390 points, and Scola was third with 146 points.

"I didn't think I would get it," Durant said, "because those other rookies helped their teams get into the playoffs."

One of the first text messages of congratulations Durant received was from Cleveland superstar LeBron James, whom Durant calls a mentor and good friend. Durant attended James' playoff games with the Cavaliers and the Wizards in Durant's hometown of Washington last weekend.

James was the Rookie of the Year in 2004.

"He told me congratulations," Durant said. "That's when I was thinking like, man, I'm in the same company as LeBron, when he was a rookie. I just smiled inside.

"He's like a big brother to me."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3377015

[greasybugsy]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sp...UUbTTUWUXUaUZT[UbUWUcU\UZU%60U[UcTYWYWZV&urcm=y

MVP is really for a player that puts up good numbers, but usually plays on a good team and is really one of the main reasons for that success... ROY of the year is more just based on #'s it seems like... so what can ya really say to that? Even Durant didn't think he would win, because he basically got a lot of garbage mins in Seattle, meaning less games.. the other guys played in key moments for teams pushing for the playoffs.

[greasybugsy]

Well now that i see it, they played around the same Minutes per game..

gp mins minspg
1 * Kevin Durant , SEA 80 2,768 34.6
2 * Al Horford , ATL 81 2,539 31.4

http://www.nba.com/statistics/player...Exp=0&splitDD=

[greasybugsy]

Does Al Horford deserved to win the ROY Award?

good grammar lol.. my vote is no on it..he could of easily won it, but it wasn't overly one sided in favour of him.

[ThaVirus215]

No.....the NBA has their Rookie Of The Year picked out before they get into the league. Lebron won it over Carmelo eventhough Carmelo got the Nuggets to the playoffs in 1 year, Brandon Roy won it for no reason, and now Kevin Durant for no reason. They have them picked before the season starts. It doesnt matter what you average it should be what you do for your team.

[Faberg]

Originally Posted by greasybugsy

good grammar lol.. my vote is no on it..he could of easily won it, but it wasn't overly one sided in favour of him.

I noticed that after I posted. lol My bad.

[2-4]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus215

No.....the NBA has their Rookie Of The Year picked out before they get into the league. Lebron won it over Carmelo eventhough Carmelo got the Nuggets to the playoffs in 1 year, Brandon Roy won it for no reason, and now Kevin Durant for no reason. They have them picked before the season starts. It doesnt matter what you average it should be what you do for your team.

it would make a little bit of sense if Roy was also a #1 pick (Oden didnt play so don't quote me about Durant was #2) but i guess this is why it isn't called "Most Valuable Rookie"

[LegendOnThaBlock]

i said yeah... he helped the hawks alot

[Alds]

I thinks he did

[chrissearl4]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus215

and now Kevin Durant for no reason.

Woah now that's a litle harsh... no Horford and it's Durants no challenge

Big Al had some help, Kevin didnt

I think it could have been a shared award