Oklahoma City guard Josh Giddey has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for February, making it four in-a-row for the 19-year-old, whilst Toronto forward Scottie Barnes took home his first monthly award out East.
Giddey has proved a revelation for a lowly Oklahoma City team in his young NBA career. The Melbourne-native has averaged 12.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 6.4 apg on the season, shooting 41.9% from the field. In the month of February, Giddey upped those averages to 16.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 7.7 apg on 46.6% from the field, headlined by a 28-point, 11-rebound, 12-assist triple-double in an overtime win over New York at Madison Square Garden. He currently leads all rookies in assists, is second in rebounds, fifth in steals and seventh in points.
Despite Oklahoma City reeling in the standings and poised to secure another high draft pick this off-season, Giddey’s Rookie of the Year odds have remained steady over the past few weeks. Although he is the only rookie with multiple Rookie of the Month honours, Giddey still trails Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Toronto’s Scottie Barnes in the eyes of the bookmakers. Whilst an All-Rookie 1st Team nod seems inevitable, the former-Adelaide 36er still has some work to do if he is to run down the likes of Mobley or Cunningham in the Rookie of the Year race.
Betting favourite Mobley has been instrumental in Cleveland’s unexpected charge towards the postseason, leading all rookies with 8.1 rpg and 1.6 bpg, to go along with his 14.7 ppg. The seven-footer also has a genuine shot at being the first rookie named to an All-Defensive team since Tim Duncan in 1998. Number-one overall pick Cunningham, meanwhile, has found his rhythm after a frustrating start. The 20-year-old leads all rookies in points per game (16.1), is second in assists per game (5.1), and fifth in rebounds per game (5.6). His numbers have leapt up to 18.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.2 apg over his past 13 outings.
Regardless, Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti must be enthused by the play of his prized rookie. A core comprising of Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and Tre Mann, as well as whatever talent they can add with their stockpile of future draft picks, is a e building block for a franchise navigating its first rebuild for some time.
