Gordon, Lopez are Rookies of the Month

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2009 – The Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Gordon and the New
Jersey Nets’ Brook Lopez today were named the Western and Eastern
Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in
January.

Gordon, who edged out Minnesota’s Kevin Love for Western Conference Rookie
of the Month, ranked first among rookies in scoring for the month (21.9
ppg), fourth in assists (4.1 apg) and first in minutes (41.1 mpg). In
addition, the first-year guard led all Western Conference rookies in free
throw percentage (.907 %). Gordon scored a career-high 41 points (13-28 FG,
6-6 FT) vs. the Thunder on Jan. 23, the most points ever scored by a
Clippers rookie, besting Al Thornton’s 39-point performance on March 29,
2008.

Lopez ranked first among rookies in blocks for the month (1.81 bpg), second
in rebounds (7.9 rpg) and fifth in both minutes (33.3 mpg) and scoring
(14.9 ppg). In the East, he ranks first in both rebounds and blocks. The
first-year center, drafted 10th overall in 2008, started all 16 games in
the month of January and posted three double-doubles. Lopez also recorded a
career-high 31 points on Jan. 12 and a career-high 17 rebounds on Jan. 31.

Here is a recap of the month for both Gordon and Lopez:

Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers
Jan. 4 vs. Detroit: Tallied 31 points, two rebounds and three assists in
an 88-87 loss to the Pistons.
Jan. 6 @ Dallas: Scored 32 points and added six assists in a 107- 102 loss
to the Mavericks.
Jan. 23 vs. Oklahoma City: Posted 41 points, two rebounds and four assists
in the Clippers’ 107-104 win over the Thunder.
Jan. 30 @ Cleveland: Registered 27 points, seven assists and two steals in
a 112-95 loss to the Cavaliers.

Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
Jan. 7 vs. Memphis: Tallied 17 points, eight rebounds and a career-high
five blocks in a 100-89 win over the Grizzlies.
Jan. 12 vs. Oklahoma City: Recorded a career-high 31 points and 13 rebounds
in a 103-99 win over the Thunder.
Jan. 17 vs. Boston: Posted a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds
in a 105-85 loss to the Celtics.
Jan. 31 @ Philadelphia: Registered 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds
in an 85-83 win over the 76ers.

In support of a season-long effort to better the various youth communities
in Phoenix, the Host City of NBA All-Star 2009, T-Mobile will donate $20
per point scored on behalf of the players named the T-Mobile Rookies of the
Month. For the month of January, T-Mobile will donate $7020 on behalf of
the Clippers’ Eric Gordon and $4760 on behalf of the Nets’ Brook Lopez.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of
the Month were the Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Memphis’ O.J. Mayo and Marc
Gasol, Miami’s Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, Minnesota’s Kevin Love,
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Portland’s Greg Oden and Sacramento’s
Jason Thompson.