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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rookie award consideration split down middle


Chicago Bulls rookie Ben Gordon (15.1 ppg) leads the NBA with 21 double-digit fourth quarters. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon spent three years at Connecticut fighting over Pop Tarts, juice boxes and other assorted sweets. Gordon had the goods, and as his roommate, Okafor believed he could help himself.

The battles between the two best friends didn’t end when they moved on to the NBA – Okafor as the No. 2 overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats, Gordon one selection later to the Chicago Bulls.

When Okafor won his second rookie of the month award earlier this season, he sent Gordon a text message that said “2-to-1.” Gordon, who had just one rookie award, replied by telling Okafor not to bother him until the Bobcats had a winning record.

“We might as well be married,” Okafor said of the feuding. “All that time we spent together, it’s like brothers, a sibling thing.”

Their latest contest will continue until the final day of the NBA regular season: Gordon and Okafor are in a neck-and-neck race for rookie of the year honors, with opinions varying across the league as to who deserves the award.

Orlando’s Dwight Howard, the No. 1 pick in the draft, is expected to grab some votes. But most believe it will be a fight to the finish between Okafor, the cornerstone of the expansion Bobcats, and Gordon, the sparkplug off Chicago’s bench.

LeBron James, who won the award last year, gives the edge to Gordon.

“I just think the impact that Ben has had on the Bulls and getting them to the playoffs for the first time since Michael Jordan retired is impressive,” James said. “He’s done it off the bench and he’s so vital to that team. If I had a vote, I’d pick him.”

Okafor heads into the weekend leading NBA rookies in scoring average (15.4), rebounding average (10.9) and minutes played per game (35.9), and is second in blocked shots per game (1.7).

He’s also reached double figures in scoring and rebounding in 46 games. Elton Brand had 42 double-doubles when he tied Steve Francis for the rookie title in 2000.

Gordon is second among rookies in scoring at 15.1 per game. But he’s scored at least 10 points in the fourth quarter a league-high 21 times this season, including the 22-point flurry he scored last month to beat Okafor and the Bobcats.

Now the two find themselves in the center of a raging debate between their coaches and the voters.

“Emeka has been pretty consistent, but Ben is the only one leading the league in one essential stat – double-digit fourth quarters,” said Chicago coach Scott Skiles. “I suppose it’s going to come down to: Who have you seen play the most?

“I don’t know how you could deny the way Ben has factored into a winning record. However, Emeka didn’t choose to go to an expansion team.”

Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff doesn’t think the voting should even be close, because he said playing on an expansion team with a shaky supporting cast makes Okafor’s numbers more impressive than what Gordon has done for a playoff-bound team.