NEW YORK, April 27, 2012 – The Atlanta Hawks’ Ivan Johnson and the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried were today named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.
Johnson led all rookies in steals (1.45 spg) and paced Eastern Conference first-year players in field goal percentage (.582). In addition, Johnson averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for the playoff-bound Hawks. Johnson, who averaged 6.4 points for the season, had six double-digit scoring performances in April, including a career-high 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting in a 109-87 win at Toronto on April 16. Two nights later, Johnson recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 116-84 win over Detroit.
Faried paced first-year players in rebounds (9.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (.584), and led Western Conference rookies in blocks (1.14 bpg). Faried also averaged 11.6 points and recorded six of his 12 double-doubles this season in the final month of the campaign, including a 27-point, 17-rebound performance April 9 in a 123-84 win over Golden State. In the victory over the Warriors, Faried established career highs in both categories, and became the first player in the shot-clock era to record that many points and rebounds in less than 25 minutes (24).
Here is a recap of the month for Johnson:
Ivan Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
April 7 @ Charlotte: Recorded 17 points and six rebounds as well as a block and a steal in a 116-96 victory at the Bobcats.
April 15 vs. Toronto: Netted 14 points to go along with seven boards, three assists and three steals in a 102-86 loss against the Raptors.
April 16 @ Toronto: Scored a career-high 21 points and tallied eight rebounds in a 109-87 win over the Raptors.
April 18 vs. Detroit: Recorded his rookie campaign’s third double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 116-84 win over the Pistons.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, Detroit’s Brandon Knight, Golden State’s Klay Thompson, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks, and Sacramento’s Isaiah Thomas.