The Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins were named Wednesday the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.
Smart ranked third among East rookies in scoring (9.8 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (1.64 spg) for the month. He also was fourth in rebounding (4.5 rpg) and averaged a conference-rookie-high 32.6 minutes in 11 games for the Celtics, whose 7-4 record was tied for fourth best in the East.
Wiggins won the West award for the fourth consecutive month and helped the Timberwolves to a 5-6 record, their best mark in a full calendar month this season. The 6-8, 199-pound forward led all rookies in scoring (16.8 ppg) and minutes (38.7 mpg), and he shot 45.7 percent from the field and averaged 4.8 rebounds.
Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Denver's Jusuf Nurkic, the Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Clarkson, New York's Langston Galloway, Oklahoma City's Mitch McGary, Orlando's Elfrid Payton and Philadelphia's Nerlens Noel.