BULLS: Gordon Nabs Eastern Conference Rookie Honors for Third Straight Month

Averaged a rookie-best 17.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 2.2 apg in 27.8 mpg in 18 appearances during March

Gordon Nabs Eastern Conference Rookie Honors for Third Straight Month

Gordon went 13-of-14 from the free throw line against Indiana on 03/26.

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April 1, 2005 – The NBA announced today that Chicago Bulls rookie guard Ben Gordon was selected the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for March. Gordon has claimed the honor three consecutive months, and joins Elton Brand (Jan., Feb., and April 2000) and Michael Jordan (Nov. 1984, Jan. and Mar. 1985) as the only Chicago rookies to earn the distinction three times in a season.

Gordon appeared in 18 games in March and averaged a rookie-best 17.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 2.2 apg in 27.8 mpg; he shot .395 from the floor, .365 from behind the arc and .862 from the free throw line. On the month, he established season highs with 35 points at Charlotte (03/30), eight assists versus Cleveland (03/31) and went 13-of-14 from the free throw line (both season highs) against Indiana (03/26). He also tied his season high with six three-pointers against the Bobcats.

At Charlotte on Mar. 30, Gordon heated up to score 22 of his NBA rookie-high 35 points in the fourth quarter. For the game, he made 11-of-17 FG, including 6-8 3FG and scored the Bulls’ last 16 points over the final four-plus minutes to lead Chicago to a 102-99 victory.

His 22 points in the quarter tied the team-rookie record set by Michael Jordan on Oct. 29, 1984 against Milwaukee (Jordan’s third pro game) and matched a league-high for points in a quarter this year, equaled by Tracy McGrady (HOU), Latrell Sprewell (MIN) and Jumaine Jones (LAL). Gordon is the only one of the four to accomplish the feat in the fourth quarter.

He registered double-digit scoring in 17 of Chicago’s 18 games, scored 20 or more points eight times and led the Bulls in scoring on six occasions. Gordon scored 10 or more points in a quarter five times—all in the fourth quarter—running his total to 32 times on the year and a league-best 21 times in the fourth quarter.

Among NBA rookies, Gordon is first in scoring average (15.3 ppg), second in three-point field goal percentage (.423), first in free throw percentage (.850), seventh in assists per game (2.0 apg) and ninth in minutes per game (24.3 mpg).