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2017 NBA Awards: Malcolm Brogdon, Dario Saric highlight NBA All-Rookie First Team

By The Sports Xchange
Forward Dario Saric (L) and center Joel Embiid (R) of the Philadelphia 76ers were unanimous selections for the NBA All-Rookie First Team, the league announced Monday. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia 76ers/Twitter
Forward Dario Saric (L) and center Joel Embiid (R) of the Philadelphia 76ers were unanimous selections for the NBA All-Rookie First Team, the league announced Monday. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia 76ers/Twitter

Guard Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks and forward Dario Saric of the Philadelphia 76ers were unanimous selections for the NBA All-Rookie First Team, the league announced Monday.

Center Joel Embiid gave the 76ers two players on the first team, which was rounded out by guard Buddy Hield of the Sacramento Kings and center Willy Hernangomez of the New York Knicks.

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Brogdon, Saric and Embiid are finalists for the NBA Rookie of the Year, to be announced later Monday.

The first team featured a record four international players, topping the previous mark of three. Brogdon is the only American player on the unit.

A second-round pick (No. 36 overall) in the 2016 NBA draft, Brogdon led rookies in assists (4.2 per game) and steals (1.1). He also ranked second in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4) and free throw percentage (86.5).

Saric was the No. 2 scorer (12.8) and third-leading rebounder (6.3) among rookies. He averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last games.

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Embiid, who was limited to 31 games due to injury, averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.45 blocks -- leading rookies in all three categories. It marked the first time since 2008 that one team had multiple first-team selections.

Hield paced all rookies by knocking down 148 3-pointers and was the third-leading scorer among his class with an average of 10.6 points between the Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

Hernangomez topped all rookies by shooting 52.9 percent from the floor while averaging 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. He recorded 11 double-doubles on the season.

Named to the All-Rookie Second team were Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss, Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram and Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell.

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