Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith Jr. make NBA All-Rookie teams

Walker Kessler made the first team and Jabari Smith Jr. made the second.

[autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] and [autotag]Jabari Smith Jr.[/autotag] were both named to the NBA’s All-Rookie teams on Monday.

Kessler made the first team at center while Smith made the second team as a power forward.

Kessler, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game for the Utah Jazz. His 72% shooting percentage led the league and his 2.3 blocks were fourth most.

Smith averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Houston Rockets after they drafted him with the No. 3 overall pick. He struggled from deep in his first season, making just 30.7% of his shots from behind the arc.

He recorded three straight 20-point, 10-rebound games in March for the Rockets to become the first teenager in NBA history to do so. and the first Rockets rookie since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984.

They are the fifth and sixth former Tigers to be named to the NBA All-Rookie teams, joining Charles Barkley (1985, first), Chris Morris (1989, second), Chuck Person (1987, first), and Wesley Person (1995, second).

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