NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2007 – The Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford and the Seattle SuperSonics’ Kevin Durant today were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Oct. 30) through November.


Kevin Durant of the Sonics is presented with the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for November by Jackson Brodman and T-Mobile Senior Manager of Sponsorships, Jocelyn English.
Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE/Getty Images
For every point scored by the players named the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month, T-Mobile will donate $20 to the New Orleans Recovery School District. This month T-Mobile will donate $2,620 on behalf of Horford and $6,940 on behalf of Durant. This philanthropic component is new to the T-Mobile Rookie Program and builds on T-Mobile’s strong appeal to the nation’s youth as the official wireless partner of the NBA. Other highlights of T-Mobile’s partnership with the NBA include the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, T-Mobile Rookie of the Month Awards, and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players. During NBA All-Star 2008, T-Mobile Huddle Up and NBA Cares will host more than 5,000 local students in the lower bowl of the arena to watch this year’s Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam.

Horford, averaged 8.7 points and 10.2 rebounds for the month. He leads all rookies in rebounds, while ranking second in steals and minutes. Horford also had eight double-digit rebound games, four double-digit scoring games and one double-double. In addition, he leads the Hawks in rebounds, while ranking second in blocks and field goal percentage, and is fifth in scoring.

Among rookie qualifiers, Durant ranks first in the league in scoring with 20.4 points per game, fifth in rebounding with 4.4, and first in assists with 2.1. He is also ranked second in the league in free throw percentage with .816 and third in steals. In addition, Durant also posted a pair of career highs in points with 35 and blocks with three on Nov. 30. vs. Indiana.

Here is a recap of the month for both Horford and Durant:

Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Nov. 7 vs. Phoenix: Scored eight points and grabbed 15 rebounds along with two blocks in the 105-96 win over the Suns.
Nov. 9 @ Boston: Tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, and two steals in the 106-83 loss to the Celtics.
Nov. 14 vs. Charlotte: Registered 13 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the 117-109 win over the Bobcats.
Nov. 16 vs. Seattle: Recorded seven points and 14 rebounds, and five blocks in a 126-123 over time loss to the Sonics.
Nov. 30 vs. New Orleans: Recorded nine points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks in a 92-86 loss to the Hornets.

Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics
Nov. 1 vs. Phoenix: Scored 27 points and added five rebounds in a 106-99 loss to the Suns.
Nov. 6 @ Sacramento: Recorded 27 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in the 104-98 loss to the Kings.
Nov. 25 vs. San Antonio: Registered 25 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 116-101 loss to the Spurs.
Nov. 30 vs. Indiana: Scored career-highs in points (35) and blocks (three) and added five rebounds and two assists in a 95-93 win over the Pacers.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month were Houston’s Luis Scola, Milwaukee’s Yi Jianlian, New Jersey’s Sean Williams, Toronto’s Jamario Moon, and Washington’s Nick Young.