Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo, the second pick in last year's NBA draft, came in second Monday when the league announced its voting for Rookie of the Year.
Oladipo received 16 first-place votes in finishing a distant runner-up to Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers, who garnered 104 of a possible 124 first-place votes. Carter-Williams was the only rookie with a better scoring average than Oladipo, who played in 80 of 82 games with 44 starts and averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists while leading the Magic in steals with 129.
Oladipo was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December and February. It marked the first time a Magic player had received the honor since Mike Miller, now with the Memphis Grizzlies, in March 2001.
The 6-foot-4 former Indiana star became the first NBA rookie since Steve Francis in March 2000 to record at least 30 points and 14 assists in a game when he accomplished that feat Feb. 21 in a double overtime victory over the New York Knicks. Oladipo scored a season-high 35 points Jan. 15 in a triple-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls.
He averaged 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 35.5 minutes as a starter.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
