Rose is NBA's Top Rookie

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Apr 22, 2009 2:40PM

Some great - if not sorta unsurprising - news for Bulls fans as the team will announce at a 2 p.m. press conference today that rookie sensation Derrick Rose is the NBA's 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year. Rose started 80 of the Bulls 82 games, averaging 37 minutes per game. For the season, he averaged 16.8 points a game (second amongst rookies), 6.3 assists a game (first amongst rookies), and 3.9 rebounds a game. Rose provided a much-needed energy for the Bulls and showed an immediate impact, no only helping them back to the postseason, but also so far in the postseason, where his 36 point performance in game one against the Celtics propelled the Bulls to an upset win. Rose is the third Bull to win the award, after Elton Brand and His Royal Airness. But there won't be much time to celebrate as the Bulls host the Celtics in a pivotal game three of their first-round playoff series tomorrow night. [Tribune, ESPN]