This is becoming somewhat of a habit.
Trae Young was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February on Friday. It’s the third time this season the Hawks’ rookie point guard received the honor after winning in November and January.
In 12 February games, Young averaged 23.3 points, 9.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. He shot 41.0 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from 3-point range. According to the Hawks, citing the Elias Sports Bureau, Young became the first rookie to average at least 23.3 points and 9.3 assists in a month (min. 10 games) since Oscar Robertson in February 1961.
For the month, Young led rookies from both conferences in points (280), assists (111), field goals made (87), 3-pointers made (38) and free throws made (68). He tied for the lead in double-doubles (6).
Young is coming off back-to-back games with a career-high 36 points in games against the Suns and Timberwolves. He became the first rookie with back-to-back 35-point games since Allen Iverson in 1997.
In Wednesday’s overtime win over the Timberwolves, Young had his rookie-leading 20th double-double of the season as he added 10 assists. Young moved into a tie with LeBron James for fourth all-time for rookies with 30-or-more points and 10-or-more assists in a game (three games apiece), trailing only Oscar Robertson (24), Michael Jordan (5), and Stephen Curry (5).
Al Horford, in 2007-08, was the last Hawks rookie to win the award three times in a season.
Other Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month nominees were the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson and the Cavaliers’ Collin Sexton.
Luka Doncic won the Rookie of the Month in the Western Conference, his fourth consecutive award.
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