Buddy Hield, Dario Saric named rookies of the month for March

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Dario Saric and the Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.

Saric, the 12th pick in NBA Draft 2014, earned the Eastern Conference honor for the second month in a row. In March, Saric led all rookies in scoring (18.4 ppg), field goals made (115) and free throws made (54). He also ranked second in rebounding (7.0 rpg), third in three-pointers made (28) and fourth in assists (3.4 apg).

Hield was also named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for December, when he played with the New Orleans Pelicans.  Acquired by Sacramento in a trade with New Orleans on Feb. 20, Hield led West rookies in scoring in March with 14.1 points per game.

Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Brooklyn’s Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead, Denver’s Jamal Murray, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Brandon Ingram and Ivica Zubac, Miami’s Rodney McGruder, Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon, New York’s Willy Hernangomez, Phoenix’s Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis, and Sacramento’s Skal Labissiere.