Yao, Tracy named All-NBA 2nd Team

Houston Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady and center Yao Ming were each named to the 2006-07 All-NBA Second Team, which was announced today by the NBA as part of the All-NBA Team announcement.

Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady (1) and Yao Ming, rear, of China, wait for the start of play after a timeout during the second quarter of an NBA basketball playoff game against the Utah Jazz Monday, April 30, 2007, in Houston. [AP]

It's only the second time in Rockets history two players earn All-NBA team honors.

This marks McGrady's second All-NBA Team honor as a member of the Rockets and the third All-NBA Team selection for Yao. This is just the second time in team history for two Rockets to be named All-NBA in the same season (1995 Third Team: Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon).

McGrady (6-8, 223, Mt. Zion Christian Academy) averaged 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, a career-best 6.5 assists and 1.30 steals in his third season with Houston. He ranked 12th in the NBA in assists and T-10th in scoring, including his 23 30-point performances in 2006-07 (Rockets record: 19-4). McGrady was also named as a starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. He surpassed the 14,000-point plateau for his career with 31 points vs. Atlanta (12/29/06), becoming the third youngest player in NBA history to reach 14,000 points and 4,000 rebounds in a career (27 years and 219 days old). McGrady was also named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Apr. 9-15.

"This is my sixth time being voted to one of the All-NBA Teams and it's always an honor to get voted in as one of the league's top players at your position," said McGrady. "Our league is stacked with a lot of great players and I'm grateful to be included among a great group of guys."

Yao (7-6, 310, China) averaged a career-best 25.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.96 blocks in his fifth season with the Rockets. Overall, Yao had a career-best 16 30-point outings and was named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played through Nov. Yao also earned Western Conference Player of the Week twice for games played Nov. 6-12 and Mar. 26-Apr. 1. Despite suffering a small fracture on his right anterior medial tibial plateau vs. the L.A. Clippers (12/23/06), Yao was named as a starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. He also moved into eighth place in Rockets history for total rebounds this past season.

"I am honored to be named to the Second-Team All-NBA this year," said Yao. "I worked very hard this year to improve my game and it feels good to know that other people feel I've improved. Last year, I was voted to the Third Team, so I guess I'm getting better."