Paul

NEW YORK, May 10 -- Chris Paul of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets will receive the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2005-06 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, the NBA announced today.

2006 Award Winners

Paul received 124 out of a possible 125 first-place votes (623 points) from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, the largest percent of votes since David Robinson received 100 percent of first-place votes in 1989-90. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. Toronto’s Charlie Villanueva finished second with 248 points and Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut finished third with 98 points.

NBA T-Mobile Rookie of the Year press conference: Play

Chris Paul led the Hornets to a 20-win improvement this season.

Paul, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, averaged rookie highs of 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, 2.24 steals and posted 21 double-doubles to lead the Hornets to a 20-win improvement over last season, the biggest turnaround in the NBA this season. He led the league in total steals with 175, becoming only the second rookie in NBA history to accomplish that feat (Brevin Knight, 1997-98), ranked third in steals per game, fifth in total assists (611) and seventh in assists per game.

Paul received the T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month award every month of the 2005-06 season, joining David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James as the only players in league history to win the award every month. Paul is in the top 10 in eight out of 10 rookie statistical categories. In addition to ranking first in points, assists, steals, double-doubles, minutes (36.3 mpg) and free throw percentage (.847), Paul ranks third in rebounds (5.1 prg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.430).

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation’s youth and as the Official Wireless Services Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA’s youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the NBA’s Rookie program. Highlights include the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players, and rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year. As part of a unique package of NBA-themed offerings, T-Mobile users will be receiving special content on NBA rookies providing insights into NBA life both on and off the court.

The Eddie Gottlieb Trophy is named in honor of Eddie Gottlieb, one of the NBA’s founders who coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the NBA championship in 1946-47.

Following are the voting results for the 2005-06 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year Award and the all-time list of winners: