Congratulations to San Antonio Spurs rookie Gary Neal as he was named to the T-Mobile All-Rookie First Team.
Neal is joined by New York Knicks’ Landry Fields, Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, and Washington Wizards’ John Wall.
For the season, Neal averaged 9.8 points, 1.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 41% from the three point line, 45% from the field, in 21.1 minutes per game.
For the playoffs, Neal averaged 7.7 points, 0.8 assists, 3 rebounds, but saw his shooting averages drop tremendously in the playoffs versus the Memphis Grizzlies as he shot 26% from the three point line, and shot 37% from the field in 18.5 minutes per game.
Among rookies, he ranked first in three-point field goal percentage and three-point field goals made, second in free throw percentage, fifth in points and seventh in field goal percentage. He broke the Spurs rookie record for three-point field goal percentage and three-pointers made in a season and ranks third on the team’s all-time rookie leaders for free throw percentage.
Neal is the second undrafted rookie since Jorge Garbajosa to be named to the team and the first Spurs selection since Tony Parker.
Neal surprised many around the NBA with his great play throughout the regular season and left some lasting memories for Spurs fans including this shot against the Grizzlies in the playoffs:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcB_jbNw_Ys&w=382&h=267]
