Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Donovan Clingan has been named to the NBA’s All-Rookie team, the league announced Tuesday.
Clingan was named to the second team along with Chicago forward Matas Buzelis, Washington guard Bub Carringon, New Orleans center Yves Missi and Miami center Kel’El Ware.
Named to the first team were San Antonio guard Stephon Castle, who also received rookie of the year, Memphis center Zach Edey, Atlanta forward Zaccharie Risacher and Washington forward Alex Sarr.
The last time the Blazers had a player on the All-Rookie team was following the 2012-2013 season, when Damian Lillard was a unanimous First-Team selection.
Recently, guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson came close to making the second team.
Henderson received 33 total points in the 2023-24 voting, which ranked 13th. The previous year, Sharpe received 36 points, which ranked 12th.
Clingan entered the season with a tough road ahead of him to make the All-Rookie team.
The No. 7-overall pick out of Connecticut joined a Blazers team with three centers already under contract, led by starter Deandre Ayton.
Clingan was limited to 19.8 minutes per game and averaged 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. He led all rookies with 1.6 blocked shots per game, fifth in the NBA.
He also ranked eighth in the NBA in contested two-point field goal attempts (487). He also led in contested twos per 36 minutes (13.2), and total contested shots per 36 minutes at 1.
Ayton was lost for the season in February, making Clingan the starter. He averaged 25.3 minutes over 28 games, producing 8.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per outing.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)