Heat guard Kendrick Nunn named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month ... again
Another month, another award for Heat rookie guard Kendrick Nunn.
The NBA announced Tuesday that Nunn has been named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January. Nunn has earned the honor each of the three times it has been awarded this season, also getting it for games played in October/November and for games played in December.
Nunn is just the second Heat player in franchise history to get the Rookie of the Month award at least three times, with Caron Butler earning the honor four times during his rookie season in 2002-03. Nunn is also the first undrafted player in NBA history to earn the award on multiple occasions
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who is widely considered the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year award, earned the honor of Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January. Morant has also received the monthly award each of the three times it has been handed out this season.
Nunn, who missed three games last month due to bilateral Achilles soreness, averaged 16.8 points while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range, 2.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 11 games in January. The Heat outscored opponents by 35 points in the 334 minutes he played in January.
For the season, Nunn, 24, is averaging 15.8 points on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent shooting on threes, 2.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 46 games. He entered Tuesday ranked third among rookies in scoring average, second in total field goals made, fourth in total threes made, third in total assists, sixth in total steals and third in total minutes played.
Undrafted out of Oakland University in 2018, Nunn signed a nonguaranteed deal with the Heat on the final day of the 2018-19 regular season. He spent last season with Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Nunn was among the 20 players selected to participate in the Feb. 14 Rising Stars Challenge, which features rookies and second-year players, at All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Heat rookie Tyler Herro will also compete in the game.
The Heat begins a five-game West Coast trip Wednesday night against the Clippers at Staples Center.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 3:14 PM.
