MINNEAPOLIS — After averaging 11.4 points, 8.9 assists and 2.24 steals in his first month in the NBA, Ricky Rubio was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month on Wednesday.
Rubio, who's known more for his passing game than scoring acumen, still ranks fifth among rookies in total points. He's fourth among all players in assists and third in steals -- first among rookies in both categories -- and he's tied for first in the league with nine point/assist double-doubles.
The point guard capped off the month on Monday in Houston, where he had arguably his best game of the season. Just two rebounds short of a triple-double, Rubio finished with 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the team's 120-108 win over Houston.
The Rookie of the Month honor, which recognized play from Dec. 25 through January 31, was given to Rubio in the Western Conference and Cleveland's Kyrie Irving in the Eastern Conference. Other nominees were Brandon Knight (Detroit), Chandler Parsons (Houston), Norris Cole (Miami), MarShon Brooks (New Jersey) and Markieff Morris (Phoenix.)
Follow Joan Niesen on Twitter.
