Shortly before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed the players who made the All-Rookie teams this season. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, who figured in a close contest for Rookie of the Year, were shoo-ins for the First Team. Joining them were VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, and Cedric Coward.
While a few eyebrows were raised at the inclusion of Harper, there was widespread negativity towards Coward making the All-Rookie First Team, with some fans making it clear that a Toronto Raptors rookie was more deserving of that honor.
“Cedric Coward on the All-Rookie First Team?! Guess hard work AND a killer name pays off. League’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.”
“Cedric coward over Collin Murray boyles?”
“CMB should’ve been first team over ‘Cedric Coward'”
“CMB wayyyy better than coward and melo even said it”
“Nah who CEDRIC COWARD. ngl i ain’t hear abt bro all season . I heard abt every single hooper on this list except son”
“Ace Bailey and CMB should’ve been First Team. They were definetly better than Coward and Harper”
For what it’s worth, Collin Murray-Boyles averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in the Raptors’ first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, Cedric Coward put up 13.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 2.8 apg for a Memphis Grizzlies squad that failed to make the playoffs.
Voting Breakdown Shows Three Unanimous Selections for NBA All-Rookie First Team
While Coward’s inclusion in the All-Rookie First Team has drawn flak, there was no controversy with three First Team selections as far as the voters were concerned.
In the voting breakdown released by the NBA, three rookies got 200 total points as unanimous picks: Flagg, Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe.
Meanwhile, Harper received 193 total points and Coward had 125 total points. The Grizzlies guard, as it turned out, had just a slight lead over the New Orleans Pelicans’ Derik Queen and the Sacramento Kings’ Maxime Raynaud, who received 110 total points apiece.
