After the Players of the Month and the Coaches of the Month, it’s the turn of the Rookies to be rewarded by the NBA. Paolo Banchero and Walker Kessler are the winners for February.
And three in a row for Paolo Banchero! Since December, the young Magic nugget has been chaining individual awards. A potential favorite for the title of Rookie of the Year, the Italian still enjoyed this month of February with 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He also writes his name in the registers of his franchise. He’s the first Orlando rookie to win three back-to-back monthly awards since a certain… Shaquille O’Neal. We have seen worse in comparison.
rook of tha month³ ⭐️
Paolo Banchero joins @SHAQ as the only players in franchise history to be named the @NBA‘s Rookie of the Month in three consecutive months
O’Neal did it four straight times from Nov. 1992-Feb. 1993 pic.twitter.com/NXhJ73mR3g
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 2, 2023
In the West of the country, it is Walker Kessler who offers himself a first career reward. The pivot of Jazz is only gaining momentum and he has brilliantly ensured the succession of Rudy Gobert in the racket of the Mormons. With 10.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks (!) per game in February, he deserved to receive some praise. Utah has begun its transformation by transferring several veterans and executives, but the former Auburn player should become one of the central pieces of the franchise in the coming years. One of the steals from the Draft 2022 vintage.
Maaaan, congrats 🤠
Walker Kessler is your 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡! #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/TiII2n6Lq9
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 2, 2023
Western Conference : Malachi Branham (Spurs), Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. Keegan Murray (Rockets) and Jalen Williams (Thunder)
Eastern Conference : Jaden Ivey (Pistons), Bennedict Mathurin (Pacers)
