SIXERS MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS NAMED NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. Photo from khandyman.com

SIXERS MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS NAMED KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that Michael Carter-Williams has been named Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. He joins Allen Iverson (1996-97) as the only players to win the award in franchise history. Carter-Williams earned 104 of a possible 124 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters selected by the NBA.

“Michael made an immediate impact on the court this season, but his dedication, professionalism and contributions to both the organization and the Philadelphia community make him all the more deserving of this 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year award,” said Sixers Managing Owner Josh Harris. “This is an incredibly proud moment for the 76ers and one we are thrilled to share with him, the city and our fans.”

“Michael performed and represented the Sixers organization this past season in a manner befitting of the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year,” said co-Managing Owner David Blitzer. “He never stopped working – from the moment he burst onto the national scene in our home opener through the final horn at last game of the season – and we are proud to congratulate him on this well-deserved award.”

Carter-Williams was the 11th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2013 NBA Draft. The last “double-digit” draft pick to be named Rookie of the Year was Mark Jackson, who was the 18th overall pick by New York in 1987. The only other players who were drafted 10th or later and went onto win Rookie of the Year are Jamaal Wilkes (1974), Woody Sauldsberry (1957) and Don Meineke (1953).

“By opening night, it was clear to us that Michael belonged. This award marks a lifetime of hard work, from Hamilton to St. Andrew’s, and Syracuse to the Sixers,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Sam Hinkie from an international scouting trip. “We congratulate him on this unique achievement and look forward to helping him put in the work necessary to garner even greater success in the future.”

In his NBA debut against Miami on October 30, 2013, Carter-Williams had 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and nine steals. He became just the third player in NBA history to reach those stats in a single game. The nine steals tied the franchise record and were the most by a player in his NBA debut.

Carter-Williams went onto be named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from October 29 through November 3. Shaquille O’Neal is the only other rookie to be named Player of the Week to start his career. Carter-Williams was also named Kia Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the combined months of October and November, as well as January, March and April.

For the season, Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists (tied for 11th in NBA), 6.2 rebounds and 1.86 steals (sixth in NBA). He became just the third player dating back to 1950-51 to lead rookies in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game, joining Oscar Robertson (1960-61) and Alvan Adams (1975-76).

Carter-Williams joined Robertson and Magic Johnson (1979-80) as the only players to average at least 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in their rookie season.

As part of its support of the Rookie of the Year Award, Kia Motors America (KMA) will donate an all-new 2015 Kia Sorento LX CUV to the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation (FCF) which is dedicated to funding research to find treatment options and a cure for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Kia Motors will present a Sorento to the charity of choice of each of five 2013-14 year-end award winners as part of “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” Following this season, Kia Motors will have donated a total of 31 new vehicles to charitable organizations since its support of the NBA’s prestigious year-end honors began in 2008.

 ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS:

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the elite franchises in the National Basketball Association and are owned by an investor syndicate led by prominent financier Joshua Harris. The Sixers play home games in Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.