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Yao Named NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month

HOUSTON (Jan. 2, 2003) - The NBA today named Houston Rockets center Yao Ming the Western Conference “got milk” Rookie of the Month for December, as he led all rookies with averages of 17.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.73 blocked shots in 15 games last month. Among NBA rookies in December, Yao ranked third with a field goal percentage .524 and second with a free throw percentage of .867.

Among all NBA players in December, Yao ranked eighth in rebounds per game and seventh in blocked shots per game. The 7-foot-6, 296-pound center compiled eight double-doubles in 15 December contests. The first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft scored 27 points with a career-high, Rockets individual season-high and NBA rookie season-high 18 rebounds on Dec. 1 vs. San Antonio. He added 29 points with 10 rebounds and a career-high and NBA rookie season-high-tying six blocks vs. Indiana on Dec. 18.

Among NBA rookies this season, Yao ranks second with 13.2 points per game, second with 7.6 rebounds per game, first with 2.00 blocks per game, first with a field goal percentage of .571, and third with a free throw percentage of .793. He leads the Rockets in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocked shots.

This marks the 13th time in franchise history for a Rockets player to earn NBA Rookie of the Month honors. Ralph Sampson received the award six times during the 1983-84 season, while both Hakeem Olajuwon and Steve Francis claimed the award three times during the 1984-85 season and the 1999-2000 season, respectively.