(CNN Philippines) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson has been named to the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Rookie First Team on Tuesday PHT (May 19).
Clarkson, who received 74 first-place votes and 52 second-place votes to place fifth overall, joined Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls), Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia 76ers) and Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic) on the All-Rookie first team.
He became only the 11th Laker to be selected to the first team, joining Eddie Jones, Vlade Divac, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Magic Johnson, Norm Nixon, Brian Winters, Jim Price, Dick Garrett, and Bill Hewitt, and 1958-59 Rookie of the Year Elgin Baylor.
Clarkson spent most of the 2014-15 season on the bench before getting the opportunity to play quality minutes when the Lakers suffered injuries to some of the their players.
In 38 games as a starter, the University of Missouri product averaged a team-leading 15.8 points per game, on 45.8% shooting, along with 5.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
Because of his stellar play, Clarkson was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month in March, becoming the first ever Laker to be honored with the award, after averaging 15.8 points (45.2% shooting), 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in that month.
In one game in March, the 22-year-old joined Stephen Curry, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook as the only players in the NBA this season to record a game of at least 26 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and three steals. He also set a career-high of 30 points on March 24 to become the first Laker rookie since Eddie Jones to score 30 points in a game.
For the season, Clarkson ranked second among rookies in points per game (11.9), third in assists per game (3.6) and free throw percentage (.829), fourth in field goal percentage (.448), and 13th in rebounds per game (3.2).
He was selected 46th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Lakers, who acquired the pick from the Washington Wizards for $1.8 million.
