Two Sacramento natives share NBA Rookie of the Month honors

Dec 3, 2024, 1:06 PM | Updated: 2:39 pm

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 20: Jaylen Wells #0 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against...

Jaylen Wells #0 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at FedExForum on November 20, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sactown Sports writer

With only a few games taking place in October, monthly leaguewide awards don’t surface until the end of November. Philadelphia’s Jared McCain and Memphis’ Jaylen Nowell were named the first NBA Rookies of the Month for the 2024-25 season.

Both of the award winners were born in Sacramento, California. McCain (20) played high school basketball at Centennial High School, where he was named the California Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior.

Meanwhile, Wells (21) went to Folsom High School. With just one year between them in age, they both were drafted into the league simultaneously and have wasted no time showing what they can bring to the NBA floor.

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Wells, selected with the 39^th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, started 15 of his 20 appearances and averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25.3 minutes while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range to help guide the Grizzlies to a 13-7 record (third in the West) through the end of November.

The 21-year-old led West rookies in both scoring average and starts and ranked second among all qualified rookies in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. He placed fourth in minutes per game.

Memphis Grizzlies PR (12/3/24)

As for McCain, he’s gotten more opportunity than expected due to early injuries plaguing the Sixers roster. Starting in seven of his first 18 games, the guard averaged 10.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.5 rebounds on 44.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three.

He is the early favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year, with the Los Angeles Lakers Dalton Knecht also off to a strong start.

The local Sacramento era could continue to have strong NBA representation as the Rookies of the Month from California’s capital, McCain and Wells, continue their careers.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

On Tuesday night, Sacramento will face the up-and-coming Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center.

Last season, the Rockets swept the Kings, losing all three games in the regular-season head-to-head series.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.