By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner was named Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, as announced Tuesday evening.
The German player, the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft coming out of Michigan, averaged 19.5 points, 5,1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in December. He is the top scorer among rookies with 15.9 points per contest over the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season.
Wagner, 20, became the eighth Magic player earning Rookie of the Month honors. The list includes Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway, Mike Miller, Victor Oladipo, Dennis Scott, Elfrid Payton, and R.J. Hampton.
Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers took the first Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award of the season. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey went back-to-back getting both nods after putting up 11.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game in December. He recently became the youngest-ever player logging a triple-double.
Joel Embiid and Donovan Mitchell were named Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively. Before the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz stars, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors topped the East and West for October/November.
As for the Coach of the Month awards, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins earned the distinctions in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively. Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls and Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns opened the season in a similar style.
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