Rookie of the Month: Russell Westbrook

OKC THUNDER'S RUSSELL WESTBROOK & CHICAGO'S DERRICK ROSE

NAMED T-MOBILE ROOKIES OF THE MONTH (NBA Press Release)

NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2009 - The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Rose ranked second among rookies in scoring for the month of December (16.3 ppg), first in assists (6.2 apg) and second in minutes (37.3 mpg). The first-year guard led the Bulls in assists in 12 of their 15 games for the month and tallied double-figure scoring efforts in all but one contest. Rose became just the fifth rookie in Bulls history (joining Kirk Hinrich, Michael Jordan, Reggie Theus and Jay Williams) to record a 20-point, 13-assist game when he accomplished the feat on Dec. 29 at New Jersey.

Westbrook ranked third among rookies in scoring for the month of December (15.5 ppg), second in assists (5.1 apg) and sixth in rebounding (5.1 rpg). The first-year guard's 1.33 spg in December was second only to the 1.77 spg of Miami rookie Mario Chalmers. Westbrook was the lone rookie, and one of only seven players in the league, to post averages of at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists for December. Westbrook recorded two 30-point games and a five-steal game for the Thunder during the month.

Here is a recap of the month for both Rose and Westbrook:

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Dec. 2 vs. Philadelphia: Tallied 24 points, six rebounds and two assists in a 103-95 loss to the 76ers.

Dec. 12 @ Memphis: Recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 assists in a 103-96 loss to the Grizzlies.

Dec. 13 vs. New Jersey: Posted 26 points, six rebounds and six assists in Chicago's 113-104 win over the Nets.

Dec. 29 @ New Jersey: Registered 21 points and a career-high 13 assists in a 100-87 win over the Nets.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec. 6 @ Miami: Tallied 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 105-99 loss at Miami.

Dec. 21 vs. Cleveland: Recorded 24 points and a career-high 11 assists during a 102-91 loss to the Cavaliers.

Dec. 29 vs Phoenix: Scored a career-high 31 points and added five assists and three rebounds in a 110-102 loss to the Suns.

Dec. 31 vs. San Golden State: Recorded 11 points, six rebounds and tied a career-high with five steals in Oklahoma City's 107-100 win over the Warriors.

In support of a season-long effort to better the various youth communities in Phoenix, the Host City of NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile will donate $20 per point scored on behalf of the players named the T-Mobile Rookies of the Month. For the month of December, T-Mobile will donate $4,900 on behalf of Chicago's Derrick Rose and $4,440 on behalf of Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month were the Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon, Memphis' O.J. Mayo, Miami's Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, New Jersey's Brook Lopez and Orlando's Courtney Lee.

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The donation is part of the overall T-Mobile Rookie Program and builds on T-Mobile's strong appeal to the nation's youth as the official wireless partner of the NBA. Other highlights of T-Mobile's partnership with the NBA include the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, T-Mobile Rookie of the Month Awards, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile and NBA Cares will host more than 3,500 local students from four school districts in Phoenix, to sit in the lower bowl of the arena to watch this year's T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, February 13.