Okafor wins NBA’s Rookie of Year award

Charlotte forward Emeka Okafor has won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, narrowly beating best friend Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls, a Bobcats source told the Associated Press Tuesday.

The Bobcats have called a news conference today for what they have only called “a major announcement.”

Okafor, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, led all rookies in scoring (15.9 points per game) and rebounding (10.9 rpg) and was second in his class behind Atlanta’s Josh Smith in blocks (1.71).

He ended his season with 47 games in double figures in both points and rebounds.

But Okafor spent the final months in a close battle with Gordon, his best friend and roommate while the two led Connecticut to the NCAA championship. Both left UConn for the NBA following the 2004 title, and they went Nos. 2 and 3 in the draft.

Gordon became a sparkplug for the Bulls off the bench while helping them into the postseason for the first time since Michael Jordan’s retirement. He became the first rookie to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award on Tuesday after averaging 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season.

Gordon said he had not been told that Okafor had edged him for the award.

“I’ll be happy for him,” Gordon said. “He had a great season. So I’ll definitely give him a call and congratulate him if he wins the award.”

As the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft, Gordon expected to be a starter. And he was – for the first three games of the Chicago Bulls’ 0-9 start.

“The way I was playing I didn’t deserve to be starting,” Gordon said. “That kind of humbled me right there.”