February 1, 2005 – The NBA announced today that Chicago Bulls rookie guard Ben Gordon was selected the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January. Gordon is the first Bulls rookie since Jay Williams in December of 2002 to earn Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month accolades.

For January, Gordon appeared in 16 games and averaged 14.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.1 apg and 20.7 mpg; he shot .426 from the field, .391 from behind the arc and .880 from the free throw line. He twice tied his season high, with an NBA-rookie-high 31 points against Philadelphia (01/12) and Boston (01/29), and scored in double figures in 10 games, including 20 or more points three times. He led the Bulls in scoring on three occasions and in assists once.

Against the 76ers (01/12), Gordon came of the bench to play 25 minutes and tied his season high with 31 points (10-16 FG, 4-7 3FG). After scoring five points in the first half, he exploded for 26 second-half points (8-11 FG, 4-6 3FG), including 19 points (6-6 FG, 4-4 3FG) in just seven minutes in the fourth quarter. During that stretch, he tied a United Center record for 3FG Made in a quarter with four.

Versus Boston (01/29), Gordon scored 25 second-half points (9-17 FG, 3-7 3FG), en route to another season-high-tying 31 points (11-21 FG, 5-9 3FG). He also set a season high with six assists in the Bulls 111-107 win over Denver (01/25).

Gordon’s biggest moment of the month occurred on the League’s biggest stage at Madison Square Garden (01/17). With the Bulls trailing 84-76 with 3:33 to play, Gordon scored nine of Chicago’s final 11 points, including the game-winning basket with :00.1 to play. For the game, he finished with 17 points (7-14 FG), as he scored 13 in the final quarter. On the month, Gordon scored 10 or more points in a quarter nine times, including six times in the fourth quarter.

Among NBA rookies, Gordon is second in scoring average (13.4 ppg), first in three-point field goal percentage (.427), first in free throw percentage (.849), seventh in assists per game (1.8 apg) and eighth in minutes per game (22.2 mpg).