The head coaches selected the ’08-09 Rookie Teams, chosing five players for the first team and five for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team.
With that in mind, coaches thought much higher of Michael Beasley than did the media, which voted Beasley seventh in Rookie of the Year balloting. Teammate Mario Chalmers also got a little more love than expected, garnering five first team votes despite only three third-place media ROY votes.
Second-teammer, Kevin Love, who ranked third in the NBA in offensive rebounds (first per minute), making him, as the TWolves’ presser made clear to point out, “the first rookie to lead the League in the former category since Akeem Olaujuwon in ’84-85.” Still no word from Kevin on this honor.
| ’08-09 ROOKIE FIRST TEAM | ||||
| Player | Team | First (2 pt) | Second (1 Pt) | Total |
| Derrick Rose | Chicago | 29 | – | 58 |
| O.J. Mayo | Memphis | 29 | – | 58 |
| Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City | 24 | 5 | 53 |
| Brook Lopez | New Jersey | 21 | 7 | 49 |
| Michael Beasley | Miami | 17 | 10 | 44 |
| ’08-09 ROOKIE SECOND TEAM | ||||
| Eric Gordon | L.A. Clippers | 13 | 13 | 39 |
| Kevin Love | Minnesota | 7 | 20 | 34 |
| Mario Chalmers | Miami | 5 | 19 | 29 |
| Marc Gasol | Memphis | 2 | 21 | 25 |
| D. J. Augustin | Charlotte | – | 17 | 17 |
| Rudy Fernandez | Portland | – | 17 | 17 |
| Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Courtney Lee 12; Jason Thompson 7; Marreese Speights 3; Greg Oden 3 (1); Robin Lopez 2 (1). | ||||
Robin Lopez has one strong friend in the media, as the single vote he received was for the first team. Not surprisingly, the only mark the brother Lopez received on the Rookie of the Year ballot was a second place vote.
