Embiid earns second straight Rookie of the Month award

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor  

The highlight of the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2016-17 season thus far has been none other than rookie center Joel Embiid. After not playing competitive basketball for over 850 days, the native of Cameroon debuted for the Sixers in October and has been getting league-wide recognition ever since. His performance during December earned him the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award, the second straight month that he's won. Embiid is the first Sixer to take home the rookie honors in back-to-back months in the first two months the award is given.

2x @KIA Rookie of the Month#NBAVote Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/5PfssuKRAD

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) January 3, 2017

During the month of December, Embiid, 22, averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor. The Sixers selected Embiid third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. He's scored 23 or more points in four of his last five games. He leads the rookie class in scoring (18.9ppg), rebounding (7.3rpg), blocked shots (2.4bpg) and double doubles (6). Safe to say the 7-foot-2 center is a clear favorite for Rookie of the Year.

Pelicans guard Buddy Hield was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month after leading the west rookies in scoring (10.6ppg) and three-point percentage (47.8). He scored in double figures in nine of 16 games in December.