ITA - Il Mago Bargnani honoured after working his magic for Raptors

TORONTO (NBA) - Italy's Andrea Bargnani has been named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in the NBA.

A seven-footer that Italian national team coach Carlo Recalcati is hoping will play at this year's EuroBasket in Spain, former Benetton star Bargnani averaged 11.1 points and 3.7 rebounds as the Raptors won nine of their 12 games.
Bargnani scored in double digits 10 times and did much of his damage from three-point range.

He poured in 22 points at Chicago on February 13 - one point shy of his career-high of 23.

The native of Rome had double-digit scoring totals in 10 of his 12 games. Bargnani's team-high 20 points on eight of 12 attempts from the floor, including four-of-five from three-point range, at Houston capped off a terrific month.

Bargnani had a slow start, but with increased playing time he shown plenty of signs the Toronto Raptors made the right decision when selecting him with the first overall pick in last year's draft. "He’s very focused, he knows what he wants to do," said assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini.

"One of his best qualities is an ability to concentrate and benefit from criticism. He is like a machine. You tell him what he has to do and he works at it until he does it."

FIBA