Notes: Yao named West's Player of the Month

Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- Shortly after wrapping up a team meeting on Friday afternoon, Yao Ming met with a few reporters and conceded that he had just finished his best month in the NBA.

No one in the league is arguing.

After finishing November with the most impressive start of his NBA career, Yao was named the Western Conference's Player of the Month for the first time in his career on Friday.

The Rockets center guided the Rockets (10-5) to their best start since the 1996-97 season, averaging a career-best 25.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He is 11th in the league in both categories.

Yao found out about his award immediately after a team meeting on Friday afternoon.

"Actually, when I found out, I tried to keep quiet and look cool," Yao said. "I told myself that’s just the start and I have a long way to go. I'm still excited because it’s the first one in my career. Hopefully, it's not my last one."

Yao became the first player in a Houston jersey to be named Player of the Month since Hakeem Olajuwon earned the award in Feb. 1995.

The Rockets center already has seven double-doubles and led the Rockets in scoring in nine different games, including four 30-point performances. He matched a career-high with seven blocked shots against the Knicks on Nov. 10.

"It means a lot for me," Yao said. "I've put a lot of work in, in practice and in training. The coaches also put in a lot of work to get me better and my teammates have supported me a lot in games. It's not just (an honor) for me."

Could he turn this start into an MVP season?

"That question brings a lot of pressure," Yao said. "It's a very exciting day for me. I'm going to keep working on it. I have thanks for everybody – my teammates and coaches."

Novak's Progress: Rockets rookie Steve Novak might not make his second consecutive start on Saturday night, but he's still drawing some praise from his coach.

Van Gundy said that he has been pleased with Novak's progress since the preseason ended, adding that the forward is better now than he was over a month ago.

"I'm happier with Novak today than I was on Oct. 28," Van Gundy said. "Everybody was happy with him on Oct. 28. I wasn't. I didn't think he had one clue about what it was going to take to be successful in a regular season game, but everyone was overly and overtly praising him. All I saw was danger zone."

Novak became a fan favorite in the preseason with his long-distance shooting, averaging 12.1 points per game and making 47.6 percent of his three-point attempts.

The rookie, however, hasn't been in Houston's rotation over much of the regular season. Before making his first career start against Phoenix, Novak had only appeared in four games. Novak said he been getting himself more familiar with playing small forward over the past month.

"Since he hasn't played, I've been much happier with him," Van Gundy said. "He's been getting better mentally. So when he is put in, I feel he's going to make less mistakes. It's not just about whether he'll make or miss because I'll bet on him making."

The coach said Novak has never griped about playing time.

"Novak has never felt sorry for himself," Van Gundy said.

Big personality: Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo visited fourth graders at The Woodlands' John Cooper Middle School Thursday after the students raised $1,247 for a hospital that he recently built in the Congo.

Mutombo donated $15 million from The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to build the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in his homeland.

"The biggest thing is what he's doing for his country," Van Gundy said. "I'm overwhelmed by what he's done. He has a galvanizing effect on people."

Van Gundy added that he isn't surprised by Mutombo's popularity.

"You don't see many guys playing eight minutes per game who have people who are wearing their jerseys," Van Gundy said. "You see a lot of people wearing Mutombo jerseys. I don't think it's only because of what he did in the NBA, but also because of who is, what he stands for and how he conducts himself."