Pelicans center Yves Missi, who has steadily risen weekly, has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Year for December.

After a strong finish to 2024, rookie big men Yves Missi and Alexandre Sarr rise to No. 1 and 2, respectively. Yves Missi’s trek from being drafted at No. 21 overall last June to topping the first Kia Rookie Ladder of 2025 might seem a long and challenging one.

Pelicans center Yves Missi and Wizards center Alexandre Sarr have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month for December.

A pair of big men have been named the NBA’s Rookies of the Month for games played in December, the league announced on Thursday. Pelicans center Yves Missi won the award for the Western Conference, while Wizards forward/center Alex Sarr has claimed the award in the East.

Many NBA draft experts thought Pelicans' center Yves Missi was going to need a little time to develop. Just 30 games into his NBA career, Missi is now at the head of the rookie class.

Rookie center Yves Missi, who’s only been playing organized basketball for about 4 to 5 years, is quickly ascending into one of the league’s better starting centers. He now is the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year, according to BetGM.

Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans was awarded Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December as breakout season continues.

It’ll be one Rookie of the Month vs. another Friday night at Smoothie King Center when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Washington Wizards.