Timberwolves F Andrew Wiggins named NBA Rookie of the Year

Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins was named the NBA's 2015 Rookie of the Year on Thursday.

Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrew Wiggins was named the NBA's 2015 Rookie of the Year, the league announced Thursday.

The top overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft averaged 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds this season for the Timberwolves, who had the NBA's worst record. Wiggins received 110 of 130 first-place votes and 604 total points in the voting.

Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic finished in second place with 335 points (14 first-place votes) and Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel was third with 141 points (three first-place votes). 

The Timberwolves failed to make the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, which is the longest playoff drought in the NBA.

• MORE NBA: Secret to unlocking Wiggins's potential | SI.com's NBA awards

The team relied on the 20-year-old's presence as well as his production during the 2014-15 season. Wiggins averaged 36.2 minutes per game, the fourth-highest mark in the league and the highest among rookies.

• MORE NBA: SI profiles Wiggins as a Kansas freshman phenom (10.14.13)

- Will Green and Scooby Axson