Fans at the SkyDome booed when the Toronto Raptors picked Damon Stoudamire in the first round of last June’s NBA draft. He turned the boos into cheers with a stellar rookie season.

Stoudamire, who averaged 19 points, 9.3 assists and four rebounds for the expansion Raptors, won the league’s rookie of the year award Wednesday in a landslide vote.

“Damon has given us a lot of joy and he’s brought a lot to this franchise, a lot to this city,” said Raptors general manager Isiah Thomas, who congratulated Stoudamire with a kiss.

Stoudamire received 76 of a possible 113 votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis was second with 17. Golden State’s Joe Smith was third with 15.

Other players receiving votes were Jerry Stackhouse of Philadelphia (two), Michael Finley of Phoenix (two) and Kevin Garnett of Minnesota (one).

Cotton Fitzsimmons, who took over after Paul Westphal was fired this season, will return next season to continue his third coaching stint with the Phoenix Suns.