Today, the NBA announced their all-rookie teams and two Spanish National Team players, Marc Gasol and Rudy Fernandez, were named to the second team.

The 24-year old Gasol, Pau’s younger brother, averaged a solid 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and shot 53.0% from the field in a successful season teaming with All-rookie first teamer O.J. Mayo.  Gasol played in all 82 games for the Memphis Grizzlies, starting in 75 of those games.

Rudy Fernandez averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists coming off the bench for the Portland Trailblazers.  Fernandez was the first European player, in fact the first international player, to ever participate in the NBA’s Slam Dunk Competition.

Perhaps Rudy should have been in the three-point contest instead.  The 24-year old guard also set an NBA rookie record when he made a total of 159 three-pointers during his inaugural season.  The 159 threes surpassed Kerry Kittles’ mark by one three-pointer.  Kittles mark of 158 threes was set back in the 1996-97 season.

Fernandez also set NBA rookie records by making a three-pointer in 33 consecutive games (Dec. 7 to Feb. 22) and by hitting a three in each of his first 20 NBA games.

Marc Gasol surprisingly received only two first place votes.  That’s something I don’t completely understand as Robin Lopez and Greg Oden both received one first place vote.  Both of whom have had a much lesser season than Gasol.

The same can be said for Fernandez.  Rudy, along with D.J. Augustin, received only 17 points, the least amount of votes for players to make either of the teams.  Since Fernandez and Augustin were tied for the last spot, the second team featured six players instead of five.

The other three players on the All-Rookie second team are Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, and Mario Chalmers.

No international players were selected for the first team, which featured unanimous picks Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls (2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year) and Mayo along with Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets), and Michael Beasley (Miami Heat).

Links and Resources: Rose, Mayo unanimous choices for All-Rookie Team (NBA.com), Rudy Fernandez earns all-rookie second team honors (NBA.com), Rudy Fernandez’s Slam Dunk tribute to Fernando Martin (Interbasket)