ORLANDO’S ELFRID PAYTON AND MINNESOTA’S ANDREW
WIGGINS
NAMED KIA NBA ROOKIES
OF THE MONTH
NEW YORK, Feb.
4, 2015 – The Orlando Magic’s Elfrid Payton and the Minnesota Timberwolves’
Andrew Wiggins today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies
of the Month, respectively, for games played in January.
Payton
paced all rookies in assists (6.9 apg) and steals (1.87 spg), and finished
third in scoring (10.7 ppg). He led or tied for the
team lead in assists 13 times and scored in double figures eight times in 15
games. Payton had career highs of 22 points and 12 assists on Jan. 16 against
the Memphis Grizzlies.
Wiggins, who won the West award for the third consecutive month,
led all rookies in scoring (19.8 ppg) and minutes (38.4 mpg) in January. He
placed second among rookies in field goal percentage (.471) and was fourth in
rebounds (4.6 rpg) and steals (1.41 spg). Wiggins poured in a career-high 33
points -- 23 in the first half – on Jan. 31 against the Cleveland Cavaliers,
his 16th 20-plus effort of the season.
Here is a recap of the
month for Payton and Wiggins:
Elfrid
Payton, Orlando Magic
Jan. 2 vs.
Brooklyn: Contributed 16 points, 10
assists, a career-high-tying nine rebounds and three steals in a 100-98 loss to
the Nets.
Jan. 16 vs.
Memphis: Finished with career highs
of 22 points and 12 assists in a 106-96 loss to the Grizzlies.
Jan. 29 vs.
Milwaukee: Scored 15 points and had
six assists in a 115-100 loss to the Bucks.
Andrew
Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jan. 1 vs.
Sacramento: Recorded 27 points, nine
rebounds and four steals in a 110-107 loss to the Kings.
Jan. 17 @
Denver: Scored 31 points and
contributed nine rebounds and four assists in a 113-105 victory over the
Nuggets.
Jan. 31 vs. Cleveland: Scored a career-high 33 points and added four steals
in a 106-90 loss to the Cavaliers.
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference
Rookies of the Month were Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic, Minnesota’s Zach LaVine, New
York’s Langston Galloway, and Philadelphia’s K.J. McDaniels and Nerlens Noel.
Kia
NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month
The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of
the Month are part of a series of oncourt performance awards called “The Kia
NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its eighth season, is part of
a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and
includes five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Kia Most
Valuable Player Award, Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia Sixth Man Award,
Kia Most Improved Player Award, and Kia Rookie of the Year. It also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and
Western Conference Players of the Month during the regular season. In addition to continuing to serve as the
league’s Official Automotive Partner, Kia is also the Official Luxury Vehicle
of the NBA, following the introduction of the brand’s modern and elegant K900
rear-drive luxury sedan. For more
information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards” visit www.NBA.com/awards.
