Nets' Lopez, Thunder's Westbrook named Rookies of the Month

NEW YORK -- The New Jersey Nets' Brook Lopez and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

Lopez ranked first among Eastern Conference rookies in points per game (15.9), rebounds per game (8.5), field goal percentage (.610) and blocks per game (1.7). The first-year center, drafted 10th overall in 2008, started all 10 games in February and posted three double-doubles.

Westbrook ranked first among rookies in scoring for the month (20.6 ppg), second in assists (5.9 apg), fifth in rebounds (6.1 rpg) and fourth in double-doubles (2). In addition, Westbrook scored 20 or more points six times and 30 or more points three times. On Feb. 1, Westbrook had a career-high 34 points at Sacramento including a career-high 20 free throws made and on Feb. 21, had a career-high 13 field goals at Golden State.

Here is a recap of the month for both Lopez and Westbrook:

Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets

Feb. 3 vs. Milwaukee: Recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds, his first of three double-doubles for the month, in a 99-85 win over the Bucks.

Feb. 4 @ Washington: Tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 115-88 win over the Wizards.

Feb. 8 @ Orlando: Posted 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-84 loss to the Magic.

Feb. 17 @ Houston: Registered 21 points, nine rebounds and added four blocks in an 88-114 loss to the Rockets.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Feb. 1 @ Sacramento: Scored a career-high 34 points and had six rebounds and eight assists in a 122-118 OT loss to the Kings.

Feb. 11 @ Portland: Scored 21 points and added 12 assists in a 106-92 loss to the Trailblazers.

Feb. 21 @ Golden State: Posted 31 points, five rebounds and 11 assists in the Thunder's 133-120 loss to the Warriors.

Feb. 27 @ Dallas: Registered 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists and two steals in a 110-108 OT loss to the Mavericks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month were the Chicago's Derrick Rose, Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon, Memphis' O.J. Mayo, and Miami's Michael Beasley.

In support of a season-long effort to better the various youth communities in Phoenix, the Host City of NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile will donate $20 per point scored on behalf of the players named the T-Mobile Rookies of the Month. For the month of February, T-Mobile will donate $4940 on behalf of the Thunder's Westbrook and $3180 on behalf of the Nets' Brook Lopez.

# # # The donation is part of the overall T-Mobile Rookie Program and builds on T-Mobile's strong appeal to the nation's youth as the official wireless partner of the NBA. Other highlights of T-Mobile's partnership with the NBA include the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, T-Mobile Rookie of the Month Awards, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile and NBA Cares hosted more than 3,500 local students from four school districts in Phoenix, to sit in the lower bowl of the arena to watch this year's T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13.