The NBA has named Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng to the 2013-14 All-Rookie Second Team.
The Wolves acquired Dieng through a draft-day trade with the Utah Jazz. He was selected 21st overall. Dieng averaged 4.8 points on 49.8 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds in 60 games.
Dieng played sparingly early in the season, but started 15 of the Timberwolves final 18 games, where he made an immediate impact averaging 12.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, during the stretch.
NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team:
-Gorgui Dieng
-Cody Zeller
-Steven Adams
-Kelly Olynyk
-Giannis Antetokounmpo— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2014
Once he was given the chance to see extended minutes Dieng was impressive.
- Became the first player since Elden Campbell in 1991 to record 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ blocked shots in his first career start when he scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots on Mar. 16.
- Became the sixth NBA player since 1970 to record a 20+ point, 20+ rebound game within his first three career starts
- Fourth rookie in the last 20 years to tally a 20/20 game (Joe Smith, Tim Duncan, DeJuan Blair).
According to 1500 ESPN, the case could be made that Dieng’s strong finish was enough to earn him first team honors. But he had 108 points in the final voting and was shy. He did receive the most first place votes of any player on the second team.
2013-14 All-Rookie first team
Michael Carter-Williams – Philadelphia
Victor Oladipo – Orlando
Trey Burke – Utah
Mason Plumlee – Brooklyn
Tim Hardaway Jr. – New York
Dieng joins former Wolves Felton Spencer, Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Johnny Flynn, Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams as Wolves rookies to receive All-Rookie Second Team honors.
