Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey on Wednesday were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in January, the league announced.
Cunningham led all first-year players in scoring during January after averaging 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He became the sixth Pistons rookie to win the award and the first since Jonas Jerebko in 2010. Cunningham also joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies to record 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in a game.
Giddey posted 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and one steal. He has won the award each month this season and is the first Thunder rookie to earn the honor on three occasions. Giddey, 19, recently joined LeBron James, Luka Doncic and LaMelo Ball as the only teenagers with 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists over the first 45 games of their career.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in January. pic.twitter.com/BbyaQgWLHv
— Cody Taylor (@CodyTaylorNBA) February 2, 2022
In addition to Cunningham, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner were also nominated from the Eastern Conference. Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones were nominated from the Western Conference.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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