Nick Piccone
Is this a surprise? Because it shouldn’t be. Joel Embiid was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December. It’s his second month in a row he’s won the award.
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In December, Embiid averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 27.3 minutes per game. He played in 10 games and scored in double-figures nine times. He’s also blocked 53 shots in 546 minutes, 25 more than the next rookie in line.
Here’s more on Embiid’s fantastic month:
Embiid scored a career-high 33 points and collected 10 rebounds in Philadelphia’s December 18 win over Brooklyn. He was the first Sixers rookie to post at least 33 points and 10 rebounds in a game since Hal Greer did so for the Syracuse Nationals on February 14, 1959. Embiid also set rookie career-highs in blocks (five on Dec. 5 vs. Denver), steals (three on Dec. 8 at New Orleans) and assists (five on Dec. 14 vs.Toronto and Dec. 30 at Denver) during the final month of 2016.
Embiid’s 23-point (12-14 FT), six-rebound, five-assist, three-block, two-steal performance against Denver on December 30 made Embiid one of 10 NBA players this season to post a game with at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Against Sacramento on December 26, Embiid registered 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. He is one of just four players in the league to reach such totals on multiple occasions (December 18 and 26).
Embiid is the sixth player since at least 1983-84 to hold averages of at least 18.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks through 22 career games and the first since Shaquille O’Neal did so in 1992-93 with Orlando. The only other players to do so are former Sixer Dikembe Mutombo (1991-92), David Robinson (1989-90), Hakeem Olajuwon (1984-85) and Ralph Sampson (1983-84).
He leads all rookies in scoring, rebounding and blocks per game and is first among qualified rookies in both field-goal and free-throw percentage. His 22.8 minutes played per game place him fourth among NBA rookies.
Embiid is the fourth Sixers player to be named Rookie of the Month since the award’s inception in 1981-82. He joins Michael Carter-Williams (four times in 2013-14) and Allen Iverson (twice in 1996-97) as the only Sixers to win it more than once.
Embiid’s ready for tonight’s rematch against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2x @KIA Rookie of the Month#NBAVote Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/5PfssuKRAD
— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) January 3, 2017