Orlando, FL – Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton was named the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January, the NBA has announced today.
Payton is just the sixth Magic player to be awarded the honor. Dennis Scott won the award once, Shaquille O’Neal was awarded the honor four times, while Anfernee Hardaway, Mike Miller and Victor Oladipo each won twice.
Payton, the 10th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, ranks first among rookies in assists (5.7 apg.), sixth in scoring (7.7 ppg.), second in steals (1.45 stlpg.), ninth in rebounds (3.6 rpg.), seventh in field goal percentage (.411 FG percentage) and fourth in minutes (27.4 minpg.). He also ranks among all NBA players in assists (T-19th) and steals (T-31st).
During January, Payton scored in double figures eight times, led the team in scoring once, in rebounding once and in assists 13 times. He also recorded new career highs in points (22 points on Jan. 16 vs. Memphis), assists (12 assists on Jan. 16 vs. Memphis) and rebounds (nine rebounds on Jan. 2 vs. Brooklyn) during the month of January. Payton also dished out 10+ assists three times and notched two double-doubles.
Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins was the winner of the award for the Western Conference.