The NBA voters have recognized Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart for his strong debut campaign, voting him to the league’s All-Rookie second team.
Smart, the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, garnered 140 total voting points and 28 first-team votes — the most of any second-teamer.
The 21-year-old was a key contributor for the Celtics this season, starting 38 games and immediately proving himself as a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. His task now will be to developing both as a shooter and as a primary ball-handler.
Smart’s 36.7 percent field-goal shooting ranked last among all Celtics rotation players, and swingman Evan Turner typically handled point guard duties when he and Smart were on the court together.
NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins earned first-team All-Rookie honors, as did Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic, Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel, Orlando Magic point guard Elfrid Payton and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Clarkson. Wiggins was the only unanimous first-team selection.
Joining Smart on the second team were Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine, Brooklyn Nets wing Bojan Bogdanovic, Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic and New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway.
Smart was the second Celtics player in as many years to earn second-team All-Rookie honors, following 2013-14 selection Kelly Olynyk.
Thumbnail photo via Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports Images
