What a great season for NBA rookies. Sure most of the top guys were on teams that did not do so well, but that is how the NBA works. The best young stars go to the teams that need the most help, even those focusing on Kentucky derby betting will tell you that.

So it is no surprise that NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers was named to the 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie First Team. If you tear your attention away from the Kentucky derby odds for a second, you will notice that also making it was Washington Wizards’ John Wall, the overall No. 1 selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

But the NBA rookie power does not stop there.

Joining Griffin and Wall on the NBA All-Rookie First Team are New York’s Landry Fields, Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, and San Antonio’s Gary Neal.

Fields was having an excellent year before the blockbuster deal that sent Carmello Anthony to New York. As the Knicks style changed, Fields did fall off a little.

Griffin recorded a rookie-and team-leading 22.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 63 double-doubles. Not bad for a rookie. He also became the first rookie to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds since Elton Brand in 1999-2000.

He was also the darling of All-Star weekend with his thundering dunks in the dunk contest including one where he jumped over a car. He has made the Clippers relevant again and odds are good they will be on national TV a lot more next season. People want to see him play knowing that at any moment he could jump out of the gym and do something never before seen.

Wall, a four-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection, ranked seventh overall in assists and steals, and finished second among rookies in scoring. He is a true floor leader and can go from one end of the court to the other in a blur.

The Wizards did not win many games but with Wall in the drivers seat, they have a very bright future.

The often forgotten man in the rookie talk was Cousins. He set a Sacramento rookie record for total rebounds and averaged a team-high 8.6 rebounds. Cousins added 14.1 ppg, scoring in double figures in 58 games, and 2.5 apg. He has been mentioned in many trade offers but the Kings need to keep him as they rebuild the entire franchise.

Neal, was a typical San Antonio Spurs steal. The undrafted guard averaged 9.8 points while shooting .451 from the field, .419 from three-point range, and .808 from the free throw line. He also played solid defense and helped the Spurs to the top spot in the Western Conference.

As mentioned, it was a great season for rookies in the NBA and it will be exciting to see what they all do in year two.

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