The 6-10, 252-pound forward averaged 18.1 points and 13.3 rebounds in the team’s 13 games in December and recorded at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in each game – becoming the only player in the NBA to record a double-double in each of his team’s games during the month. Okafor also had seven games with 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds and six games with six or more offensive rebounds.

Okafor has posted a double-double in 19 straight games, the longest streak by a rookie since 1968-69 when 12-time NBA All-Star Elvin Hayes had 60 double-doubles in a row.

"The guy has earned it," said Bobcats General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff. "What I'm seeing from him is, although he didn't play a lot in the Olympics, I think just being around that and those guys was good for him. Emeka really does observe everything and I'm sure he may have picked up things from some of the other players about being a professional.

"His routine, both on and off the court, is really important to him. A lot of professional players don't understand responsibility. That's an important thing. You just don't show up and play, no matter how good you are. Because everybody is good at this level. His maturity is important because he has the ability to see the big picture. He knows what this is about. He makes (the building process) easier for us with his approach."

The second overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft registered new season highs in points and rebounds during the month, with 27 points against Seattle to finish the month on December 31 and 18 rebounds to begin the month on December 4 against New York. He also scored the game-winning points on two free throws with :05.7 left against New Orleans on December 14 and sent the game to overtime against Houston on December 18 on a dunk with three seconds left in regulation. He finished the game against the Rockets with 23 points and 17 rebounds.

Okafor leads all rookies with season averages of 15.8 points and 11.6 rebounds. He is third in the NBA in rebounding, second in the league with 4.1 offensive rebounds and third with 21 double-doubles.