Two conferences, four months, eight winners. If you’re an optimist

you’ll view the variety of winners in the NBA’s monthly rookie awards as a testament to the depth of first-year talent across the league. Each young player is stepping up as their team’s needs dictate.

However, if you’re a skeptic, you might focus on the fact that no single rookie has dominated enough to win the award twice.

Last season, four rookies—Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama—each won multiple times, claiming all 10 honors throughout the 2023-24 season.

This year, the awards landscape has been more fluid, with eight different winners emerging and then fading, resembling a game of Whack-A-Rookie.

February’s Rookie Honorees

The Eastern Conference’s winner for February was Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick. His recognition follows previous awards earned by Philadelphia’s Jared McCain, Washington’s Alex Sarr, and Miami’s Kel’el Ware.

In the Western Conference, Utah’s Isaiah Collier claimed the top spot for February, following in the footsteps of Jaylen Wells, Yves Missi, and Stephon Castle.

Latest Kia Rookie Ladder Rankings

Weekly Recap

• Collier, who slid to pick No. 29 in the draft, is proving his doubters wrong. Utah teammate Cody Williams noted: “He’s playing the game with a chip on his shoulder … He knows that there weren’t 28 players better than him in the draft.”
• Philadelphia’s McCain, whose promising rookie season was cut short by injury, is finding ways to continue his development despite season-ending surgery.
• Orlando’s Tristan da Silva has been caught in the team’s recent struggles. While the Magic’s frontcourt has regained some health, their 2-5 record since the All-Star break has coincided with da Silva’s downturn. In Orlando’s 0-4 week, he averaged just 14.3 minutes, 4.0 points, and 1.8 rebounds per game.
• Reed Sheppard made history in Oklahoma City on Monday, scoring 25 points with five assists, three three-pointers, and three combined blocks and steals. He became the first rookie in NBA history to reach those statistical marks in his first career start.

Storyline to Watch

With five weeks left in the season, the battle for Rookie of the Year is heating up, particularly in San Antonio and Memphis. Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells could be considered 1A and 1B, depending on the week. One advantage for Castle: he leads all rookies in usage rate (24.2%) among those who have played at least 30 games, highlighting his significant role with the Spurs. Meanwhile, Wells is 14th (16.0%), playing a more defined role in the Grizzlies’ system.

As the season winds down, the final stretch will be crucial in determining which rookie ultimately takes home the award.