SALT LAKE CITY (February 5, 2014) – The NBA announced today that Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke has been named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played during the month of January, marking the second straight month he has won the award.
Burke (6-1, 190, Michigan) becomes the first player in franchise history to win multiple Rookie of the Month awards. Karl Malone was named NBA Rookie of the Month in December 1985, the only previous monthly rookie honor for the Jazz. The award, which has been given monthly since the 1981-82 season, was originally the NBA Rookie of the Month before splitting into Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month in 2001-02.
The Jazz point guard led all NBA rookies in assists (6.8 apg), and ranked third in scoring (11.8 ppg) and minutes (31.5 mpg) during January. Burke scored in double figures seven times, and handed out five-or-more assists in nine of 12 contests while helping the Jazz to a 6-6 month. He recorded consecutive point/assist double-doubles on January 15 at San Antonio and January 17 at Detroit.
Here is a closer look at some of the month’s highlights for Burke:
January 13 vs. Denver: Posted 18 points and eight assists in a 118-103 win over the Nuggets.
January 15 at San Antonio: Recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists in a 105-109 loss to the Spurs.
January 17 at Detroit: Posted 20 points, 12 assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 110-89 victory over the Pistons in his first game back in the state of Michigan.
January 25 vs. Washington: Contributed 12 points on four-of-five shooting from distance, eight assists and three rebounds in a 104-101 win over the Wizards.
In 36 games (34 starts) overall on the season, the 2013 first-round draft pick (ninth overall) is averaging 12.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, along with a team-leading 5.6 assists in 30.9 minutes per game. He was also selected to participate in the 2014 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge to be played Friday, February 14, in New Orleans during NBA All-Star 2014.
Philadelphia’s Michael Carter-Williams was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Atlanta’s Pero Antic, Los Angeles Lakers’ Ryan Kelly, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and New York’s Tim Hardaway Jr.