For the third time this season, Sixers rookie Michael Carter-Williams was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. MCW also won the award in November and January. He becomes the first Sixers player in franchise history to take the honors three times in a season.
This season, MCW is averaging 16.5 points, 6.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. He leads all rookies in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
Cater-Williams, the first rookie to average at least 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists since Grant Hill in April, 1995, averaged 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists in the month of March. It is a great thing to see from a player going up against so much. The Sixers went 1-15 in the month of March, which included the continuation and the ending of a 26-game losing streak. The Sixers rookie has been taking more of a leadership role on a team with players that are auditioning for jobs.
According to Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com, MCW is looking to become just the third player all time to lead his rookie peers in points, rebounds and assists per game. Oscar Robertson and Alvan Adams are the other two, doing so in the 1960-61 season and 1975-76 season, respectively.
March was a bounce back month in some ways for Carter-Williams, who struggled to stay consistent in February.
“Last month, I had a lot of ups and downs,” Carter-Williams said. “My legs were pretty shot. I had some pretty good games but I wasn’t consistent.”
Although he averaged just under 17 points per game in February, the rookie's rebounding and assists were down. He averaged 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
Carter-Williams posted four double-doubles in March and collected a triple-double against the Knicks with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on March 10th.
MCW and the Sixers host the Bobcats tonight at 7PM. Stay tuned for the recap right here on Sixerdelphia.
Brandon Apter is a writer for Sixerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ApterShock
