Memphis, Tenn. ? Pau Gasol on Wednesday became the first European to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honor, landing 117 of 126 votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

The slender 7-footer from Spain led the Memphis Grizzlies and all rookies in scoring with 17.6 points per game, to go along with averages of 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 36.7 minutes.

He played in 82 games, starting all but three, for the Grizzlies, who went 23-59.

“I still feel a little thing moving around in my stomach. I am so happy,” the 21-year-old Gasol said Wednesday.

New Jersey’s Richard Jefferson received three votes. Golden State’s Jason Richardson, Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley, and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko each got two.