In his first full month of NBA action, Yogi Ferrell outpaced all rookies in the Western Conference.
Yogi Ferrell continues to make a splash in his rookie season. Teams passed over him twice in last June’s draft. He went undrafted. (And he wasn’t even invited to the draft combine.)
The IU product was in camp with the Brooklyn Nets and then appeared in 10 games before being send down to the Long Island Nets, their NBA D-League affiliate. He received $100,000 in guaranteed money.
Then, in late January, the Dallas Mavericks gave Ferrell a shot and he made every day of his 10-day contract count. He scored nine points in his debut, then reached double figures in the next five games — including a career high 32 points in a road win at Portland.
By that point, it wasn’t a matter of if he would finish the season with the Mavericks, who are owned by IU product Mark Cuban. It was simply a matter of when it would become official.
After earning $31,969 for his 10-day stint with the team, Ferrell latched on with the Mavericks for the rest of the season. Signed on Feb. 7, that will amount to $207,798 for the final two and a half months. The Mavericks have a team option on Ferrell for the 2017-18 season.
LISTEN: Podcast with Yogi Ferrell before the season
Dallas (23-36) changed its focus in the middle of the season, going young and giving potential contributors an opportunity to perform. Guys like Ferrell. Guys like rookie Ben Bentil, who had been playing for the Mad Ants.
On Thursday, Ferrell was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in February. He led all rookies in the West with 12 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Playing an average of 25 minutes per game, Ferrell has averaged 9.4 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in 24 appearances.
.@YogiFerrell11 is all smiles as he talks to the media about being February's Rookie of the Month! Full video coming soon! pic.twitter.com/JnQKw4mF7C
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 2, 2017
The newly-named Western Conference Rookie of the Month is the last @dallasmavs on the court after today's practice. pic.twitter.com/rhcDoS3BSH
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) March 2, 2017
Yogi Ferrell is the 1st #Mavs to win Rookie of the Month since Devin Harris in November of 2004.
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) March 2, 2017