College roommates vie to be top rookie

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Best friends in college, Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor are now battling each other for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award.

"It would be nice if we could share the award," said Gordon, who is averaging 14.6 points a game off the bench for Chicago. "I think one person getting it over the other would be kind of messed up."

Okafor and Gordon both left Connecticut early after leading the Huskies to the national championship last season. The Charlotte Bobcats chose Okafor with the No. 2 pick in the overall draft, the Bulls snapped up Gordon at No. 3.

Since then, the two have battled from afar to win the top newcomer award. They squared off Saturday night when the Bobcats hosted the Bulls.

Okafor seemed like a lock for the title, winning Rookie of the Month honors in November and December, until an ankle injury cost him nine games and forced him to pull out of All-Star weekend activities.

Gordon then won the award in January.

"I won my first Rookie of the Month award and I get this text message (from Okafor) it said "2 to 1,' " Gordon said. "I had no idea he had won the other two because I didn't really keep up with it until I won one."

Gordon and Okafor were roommates for three years at UConn, and attended summer school together. They made their decision to enter the NBA draft together, as well.

Their only other meeting this year was non-eventful, as Okafor was held to four points and Gordon didn't play the entire second half.

Gordon said the two stay in frequent contact to discuss life in the NBA, as well as Okafor's adjustment to being on an expansion team that has won just 11 games.

"We are both going through major changes in our lives, we talk about how we are doing in the league," Gordon said. "Coming in he knew exactly what he was getting into, but it's still tough for him. He kind of braced himself for that. He's just trying to go out every night and get better."