Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld believes that John Wall should’ve claimed top rookie honors.

While discussing the Wizards’ prospects in the draft lottery, Grunfeld expressed his excitement with picking Wall as the franchise cornerstone last summer and said, “He should’ve been rookie of the year...except for the rule of a second-year player being eligible.”

Griffin wasn’t exactly a second-year player since he missed the entire 2009-10 season after suffering a fractured left patella in the Clippers’ preseason finale.

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, the 2010-11 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, and LeBron James of the Miami Heat, winner of the two previous MVP awards, highlight the 2010-11 All-NBA First Team. James was the lone unanimous choice, receiving all 119 first-place votes. Joining James and Rose on the First Team are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, forwards Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, and center Amar’e Stoudemire of the New York Knicks.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul at guard, the Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph at forward, and the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford at center.

Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman and Miami Heat President Pat Riley are co-recipients of the 2010-11 NBA Executive of the Year award, the NBA announced.

In his 13th season with Chicago and second as its general manager, Forman saw the Bulls win a league-best 62 games, rookie coach Tom Thibodeau earn the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2010-11 NBA Coach of the Year, and Derrick Rose become the youngest player to win the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the 2010-11 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. Forman transformed a 41-win Bulls team by signing free agents Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver among others.
 
Riley entered his 16th season with the Heat as the architect of arguably one of the most successful offseasons in NBA history. Riley re-signed Dwyane Wade, and signed perennial All-Stars Chris Bosh and LeBron James to form the core of a team that went on to win 58 games and capture the second seed in the Eastern Conference.  

Forman and Riley received each received 11 of a possible 30 votes from a panel of their fellow team executives throughout the NBA. The Bulls’ John Paxson finished third with three votes and San Antonio’s R.C. Buford finished fourth with two votes. Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, New Jersey’s Billy King and New York’s Donnie Walsh received one vote each. 

A mark of the struggling Spurs defense could be detected Monday when the NBA released its first and second All-Defensive teams.

For the first time since 1998 and only the second time since 1985, no Spurs player was picked for either first or second team in the balloting of the NBA coaches for the league’s best defensive players.

The balloting snapped a 13-season streak for Tim Duncan of being picked on either the first or second team All-Defensive team.

The lack of a San Antonio presence on the roster is a result of the Spurs’ struggles on defense this season. The Spurs permitted opponents to shoot 47.5 percent from the field — the highest ever on a team coached by Gregg Popovich and the highest opponents’ percentage against the Spurs since the 1995-96 season when they allowed 47.7 percent.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard headlines the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Howard totaled 56 points overall, including 27 First Team votes.

Also selected to the All-Defensive First Team are guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics (39 points), forward LeBron James of the Miami Heat (38 points), forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics (33 points), and guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (33 points). Garnett and Bryant each earn All-Defensive First Team honors for the ninth time, tying Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies, and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, center Tyson Chandler of the Dallas Mavericks, forward Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers, and forward-center Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls.

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Derrick Rose, Chicago, 14 (4); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 13 (3); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 13 (4); Gerald Wallace, Portland, 11 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix 11 (4); Luol Deng, Chicago 11 (4); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 11 (3); Chuck Hayes, Houston, 10 (2); Al Horford, Atlanta 7 (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 7 (1); Ron Artest, Los Angeles Lakers, 7 (1); Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 6 (1); Shane Battier, Memphis 5 (2); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 5; Wesley Matthews, Portland 4 (2), Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City, 3; Nicolas Batum, Portland, 3; (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta; 2 (1); Keith Bogans, Chicago 2 (1); Kyle Lowry, Houston, 2; Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers, 2; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 2; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 2 (1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 1; Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers 1; Arron Afflalo, Denver, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 1; Kirk Hinrich, Atlanta 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Ronnie Brewer, Chicago, 1; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the 2010-11 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, the NBA announced today.

Curry (Pacific) was one of six divisional winners, which included Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin (Southeast), Chicago’s Luol Deng (Central), New Jersey’s Deron Williams (Atlantic), Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge (Northwest), and San Antonio’s George Hill (Southwest).

Curry received 88 first-place votes (2,445 total points) of a possible 347. The NBA will make a $10,000 donation on behalf of Curry to Habitat For Humanity East Bay, which uses volunteers to build affordable homes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Blake Griffin is the recipient of the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2010-11 T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Year, the National Basketball Association announced. Griffin is the first unanimous Rookie of the Year selection since David Robinson in 1989-90, receiving 118 first-place votes (590 points) from an equal number of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Other than Griffin and Robinson, the only other unanimous selection since the award’s inception was Ralph Sampson in 1983-84.

"Foremost Blake is a team first guy, which was evident in all 82 games this season,” stated Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey. “His work ethic, production and commitment to his coaches and teammates during his rookie campaign was unparalleled in my eight year tenure with the Clipper organization. I know being named Rookie of the Year was one of the individual goals he set for himself when we drafted him and I'm thrilled that all of his hard work has been recognized."

Finishing second was John Wall with 295 points, followed by DeMarcus Cousins, Landry Fields, Gary Neal and Greg Monroe.

Derrick Rose received the 2010-11 NBA Most Valuable Player award on Tuesday and already began looking towards improving his game.

‘‘This is only my third year. To get the MVP at 22 years old makes me want to push harder, work harder, stay in the gym longer. I’m blessed to be in this position right now.’’

Rose has also enjoyed hearing MVP chants and those should increase in volume during Game 2 on Wednesday.

‘‘It feels great,’’ he said. ‘‘It gives us an advantage. There’s nothing like being on that line, and you hear that. It makes you feel special when you’re up there. It makes you play even harder.’’

Speaking for the Bulls, general manager Gar Forman said the organization could not be more pleased.

‘‘We are so proud of what Derrick has accomplished, not only on the floor but off the floor,’’ Forman said. ‘‘Whatever Derrick’s ceiling is, he will reach it because of his desire and determination. The scary thing is, he’s only 22 years old. We don’t think he’s reached that ceiling yet. He’s going to get better and better.’’

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin will be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year Wednesday, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly on the announcement.

The Clippers on Tuesday announced a news conference for the presentation of a major NBA award.

Griffin averaged 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Derrick Rose received 113 of 120 first place votes (1,182 points) to win the 2010-11 NBA Most Valuable Player award.

Dwight Howard finished second with 643 points, followed by LeBron James with 522, Kobe Bryant with 428, Kevin Durant with 190 and Dirk Nowitzki with 113 points.

Rose is the youngest winner of the award in NBA history and will not turn 23 until October.