Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin today was named the NBAs Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month for games played through January. It is the third straight month Griffin has been honored as Rookie of the Month. The Washington Wizards John Wall won the award for the Eastern Conference.
Griffin led all rookies in scoring (26.0 ppg) and rebounding (13.4 rpg) and ranked second in assists (4.4 apg). He became only the fourth rookie over the last 20 seasons to average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a calendar month.
Here is a recap of the month for Griffin:
Blake Griffin, LA ClippersJan. 5 vs. Denver: Scored 22 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and one block in a 106-93 victory over the Nuggets. Jan. 12 vs. Miami: Recorded 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal in a 111-105 win over the Heat.Jan. 17 vs. Indiana: Posted 47 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and one block in a 114-107 win over the Pacers. Jan. 22 vs. Golden State: Tallied 30 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in a 113-109 victory over the Warriors.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month were Detroits Greg Monroe, New Yorks Landry Fields, Philadelphias Evan Turner, Sacramentos DeMarcus Cousins and San Antonios Gary Neal.
Building upon its already strong appeal to the nations youth and as Official Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBAs youngest players -- the Rookies -- through the T-Mobile Rookie Program. Highlights include rookie awards presentations such as the T-Mobile Rookies of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2011, T-Mobile and the NBA will host more than 3,500 students from the Los Angeles Unified School District to watch the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam from the best seats in the house at STAPLES Center on Friday, February 18.