NBA Awards

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving will be named as the NBA Rookie of the Year today, according to sources.

After playing in just 11 games in only one season at Duke, Irving was selected as the number 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, and has repaid Cleveland and their fans by averaging 18.5 points, 5.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1 steal, whilst helping them to a 21 and 45 finish.

Irving, who didn’t turn 20 until March 23, also shot the ball better as a rookie than many scouts projected, registering shooting percentages of 46% from the field and 39% from 3-point range. Irving’s performance quickly established him as Cleveland’s new franchise player in the Cavaliers’ second season without LeBron James.

The Rookie of the Year is the last major individual award that has yet to be officially announced by the league office. LeBron James collected his third career MVP trophy Sunday, joining Orlando’s Ryan Anderson who was Most Improved Player, New York’s Tyson Chandler who was voted Defensive Player of The Year, Oklahoma City’s James Harden was named Sixth Man of The Year and San Antonio’s coach Gregg Popovich was the NBA Coach of The Year.