Duncan Named Rookie of Year

Forward Tim Duncan, a major force in leading the San Antonio Spurs to a record turnaround this season, was overwhelmingly voted the NBA’s rookie of the year.

The No. 1 draft pick from Wake Forest received 113 of 116 votes (97%) from a panel of NBA writers and broadcasters. New Jersey’s Keith Van Horn got the other three votes.

“It’s a goal I had coming into this year,” said Duncan, who averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.5 blocked shots per game and shot .549 from the field. “I wanted to play well this year and win this award.”

Duncan’s margin of victory is the largest since Shaquille O’Neal received 98% of the vote in 1992-93.

With Duncan in the lineup and David Robinson returning from foot and back injuries, the Spurs went 56-26 in the regular season, an improvement of 36 victories from their 1996-97 record.

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Backing away from earlier comments, New Orleans Saint Coach Mike Ditka said that trainer Dean Kleinschmidt had interviewed for a position with Chicago Bull General Manager Jerry Krause and not prospective coach Tim Floyd.

Reports that the Saints’ trainer had interviewed with Floyd, the Iowa State coach widely believed to be the next coach of the Bulls, caused a stir in Chicago, where Coach Phil Jackson is leading the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs.