Preceded by Bennedict Mathurin in the East in November, Paolo Banchero took advantage of the end of 2022 to set the record straight. For his part, Keegan Murray takes advantage of the great dynamics of the Kings to succeed Jalen Williams. Ladies and gentlemen, here are your two NBA rookies of the month for December!
NBA Rookies of the Month for December: Paolo Banchero and Keegan Murray! ???? pic.twitter.com/0cRJKknAch
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 3, 2023
“Perfectly balanced, as all things should be” This is surely what Paolo Banchero must have said to himself when he learned of his rookie of the month award for December. No doubt upset to have seen Bennedict Mathurin pass him by for the first monthly trophy of the season, the former Dukie responded on the floor. So certainly, Jamahl Mosley’s players still have the penultimate record in the Eastern Conference, but they still showed great things in December, like a series of 8 wins in 9 games before the holidays, during which the Italian-American averaged nearly 22 pawns. Overall, that gives us an average of 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in December, which is pretty solid.
It was probably enough to overcome some tough opponents like the Clippers, the Hawks, the Raptors (twice) or the Celtics (also twice). Despite learning that was not always easy, Banchero and his buddies, Franz Wagner and Bol Bol in the lead, did their best to send the following message to the rest of the League: “We don’t want to hear about Victor Wembanyama”.
At first glance, between Chet Holmgren’s all-season absence and the Kings’ good form led by their chief dragster, De’Aaron Fox, seeing Keegan Murray rewarded in the West looks very much like a default pick. But we must give back to Caesar what is his. While his selection with the fourth choice of the last draft had aroused some skepticism, Murray had already closed a few mouths during the Summer League, and confirms for his first steps in the NBA.
Interesting scorer – 12.7 pawns on average in December – it is above all his 46.4% from afar that makes him valuable for a team which, in addition to Maman Renard, also has Domantas Sabonis in its ranks, which, you will agree, requires some spacing adjustments. The rookie of the month title for KeeKee from Iowa may not be the announcement of an ultimate crack, but with so 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 steals average, it is the reward of a promising contributor in the Great League. It may be a detail for you, but for Sac-Town it means a lot.
We send our warmest greetings to these gentlemen Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin, who still deserve their mention. We also wish a happy new year 2023 to all first-year players, and may luck be in your favor during this period of rookie wall.
Sources : ESPN, NBA