Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Williams named NBA Rookies of the Month

Alex Kennedy
Dec 2 2022

Oklahoma City Thunder's Jalen Williams and Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin have been named the NBA Rookies of the Month for October and November.

Williams, the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, appeared in 18 games (seven starts) for the Thunder and averaged 10.7 points (fifth among rookies) on 52.4% shooting to go along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists (fourth among rookies) in 25.1 minutes per game. After second-year Thunder guard Josh Giddey won four Rookie of the Month awards during the 2021-22 season, Thunder rookies have now captured the award in five of the past six months. Williams becomes the third Thunder rookie to win Rookie of the Month honors.

Mathurin, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, leads all NBA rookies this season in points scored, three-pointers made, free-throws made and free-throw attempts. In addition, he ranks seventh in rebounding average, fifth in assists, second in field goal percentage, second in three-point percentage and fifth in steals. Mathurin leads all NBA players in bench scoring with an average of 19.2 points per game. He has scored 20 or more points off the bench 11 times this season and the Pacers have posted a 7-4 record in those games. Mathurin becomes the first Pacers player to earn Rookie of the Month honors since Myles Turner in Feb. 2016.

The other nominees were: Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets), Keegan Murray (Kings), Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers), Paolo Banchero (Magic), AJ Griffin (Hawks), Jaden Ivey (Pistons) and Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)