OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 4, 2022 – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December, it was announced today by the NBA.
Giddey appeared in 10 games (all starts) for the Thunder and averaged 11.8 points, a team-high 7.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 31.3 minutes per game, as the team went 6-4 in games he played. He collects his second consecutive Rookie of the Month award and becomes just the second Thunder player to earn the honor twice.
He was the only rookie to average 10-plus points, seven-plus rebounds and six-plus assists in December. He led all rookies with 6.7 assists and ranked 19th in the league overall, while being the only rookie to register three games with 10 or more assists. Among all NBA guards, his rebounds ranked eighth overall.
On Dec. 18 vs. the Clippers, Giddey became one of only six NBA players in history to record 18-plus rebounds and 10-plus assists in a game during their rookie season and the first to do so since Larry Bird in 1979. Giddey is also one of three rookie guards with 18-plus rebounds in a game since 1981 including Ben Simmons (2017) and Corey Brewer (2007).
The Melbourne, Australia native became the fifth player in NBA history to record at least two rebound-assist double doubles in their rookie season including his 10-rebound, 10-assist performance in the Thunder’s 117-112 win against New Orleans on Dec. 26.