Sixers' Michael Carter-Williams Named NBA Rookie Of The Year
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- No one thought the Sixers would be getting a franchise cornerstone with the 11th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. It appears as if they did.
Michael Carter-Williams has officially been named the NBA Rookie of The Year for the 2013-14 NBA Season.
Carter-Williams joined Allen Iverson as the only two Sixers in franchise history to have won the award.
The Sixers, thought by most to be the worst team in the NBA coming into the season, won their first three games of the year behind the play of Carter-Williams, including a 22 point, 12 assist, seven rebound and nine assist performance in the opener against the Miami Heat.
Carter-Williams received 104 out of a possible 124 first place votes. Victor Oladipo, of the Orlando Magic, finished second in the voting.
The Sixers held a news Monday afternoon where Carter-Williams was presented with his award.
Carter-Williams, who is from the Boston area and attended Syracuse University, thanked the Philadelphia fan base.
"And especially, the Philadelphia fans, who showed me a lot of support throughout the year," said Carter-Williams. "When I first got here, I didn't really know what to expect. I knew just by the beginning of the year, just talking to coach [Brown], and you know, feeling out his personality. Him being from the Boston, we kind of connected quick."
Carter-Williams went on to praise Sixers head coach, Brett Brown, saying Brown has earned his trust.
"I'm not a person that really trusts a lot of people," Carter-Williams said. "My circle is really close, especially when it comes to basketball. You know, everyone has their own opinion so I got to keep my circle close and I have a lot of trust in coach, just from going through this whole year and him really being on my back about every little thing --- on the court and off the court. I really look up to him and appreciate him and what he does every single day."
After a mid-season lull, Carter-Williams finished the season in strong fashion, with 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game in April, with just 15 turnovers in the team's eight games. He shot 52.5% in April.
The Syracuse product played in 70 games for the Sixers during his rookie season, averaging 16.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 6.4 assists for the 19-63 Sixers.