Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard wins NBA Rookie of the Year award

Published May 01, 2013

Associated Press

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  FILE- In this Dec. 22, 2012, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard calls out a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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  FILE- In this March 2, 2013, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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  FILE- In this Dec. 13, 2012, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, battles for a loose ball with San Antonio Spurs forward Danny Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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PORTLAND, Ore. –  Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been unanimously chosen the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

Lillard, the sixth overall pick in last June's draft out of Weber State, led all rookies with a 19-point scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season.

Lillard broke Stephen Curry's rookie record for 3-pointers in a season, finishing with 185. He is the fourth player in league history to win the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy unanimously, joining Blake Griffin in 2011, David Robinson in 1990 and Ralph Sampson in 1984.

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Baylor's Griner captures women's Naismith Award

Published April 08, 2013

Sports Network

Atlanta, GA –  Baylor senior Brittney Griner won the Naismith Award as women's college basketball Player of the Year for the second straight year on Monday.

Griner became the seventh player to win the award twice, joining Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Diana Taurasi, Chamique Holdsclaw, Dawn Staley and Cheryl Miller, who won it three times from 1984-86.

In her senior season, the 6-foot-8 Griner averaged 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 61 percent from the floor. She finished her career with the most blocks (748) in NCAA history and ranks No. 2 on the NCAA Division I women's scoring list with 3,283 points.

"I am so proud of all Brittney has accomplished during her career at Baylor, said Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey. "She joins some very elite company in winning this prestigious award, and now she has two to her credit. Brittney is truly deserving of the honor and we thank everyone for recognizing this special talent."

The Naismith award is given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which is comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. Fan voting accounted for 25 percent of the final tally.

The other finalists for the award were Delaware senior Elena Delle Donne, Notre Dame senior Skylar Diggins and Stanford junior Chiney Ogwumike.

Michigan's Trey Burke captured the men's Naismith Award on Sunday.

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