The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, 25 October through Sunday, 30 October.
James helped the Cavaliers to a 3-0 week behind averages of 21.0 points, 10.0 assists (third in the East) and 8.3 rebounds. He opened the season with a triple-double, recording 19 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 117-88 victory over the New York Knicks. On 28 October, in a rematch of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors, James tallied 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 94-91 win.
Westbrook led the Thunder to a 3-0 week behind a league-leading 38.7 points and 11.7 assists to go with 12.3 rebounds (tied for fourth in the West). On 28 October, he posted 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-110 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns – the NBA’s first triple-double with 50 points since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. He added another triple-double on 30 October, finishing with 33 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in a 113-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook is the first player to record two triple-doubles in the first three games of the season since Magic Johnson in the 1982-83 season. He is also the first player in NBA history to tally at least 100 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists through his team’s first three games.
Here is a recap of the week for James and Westbrook:
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
25 Oct. vs. New York: Recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 117-88 win over the Knicks.
28 Oct. @ Toronto: Posted 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 94-91 victory over the Raptors.
29 Oct. vs. Orlando: Tallied 23 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 105-99 win over the Magic.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
26 Oct. @ Philadelphia: Finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a 103-97 victory over the 76ers.
28 Oct. vs. Phoenix: Recorded a triple-double with 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-110 overtime win over the Suns.
30 Oct. vs. L.A. Lakers: Posted a triple-double with 33 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds in a 113-96 win over the Lakers.
You can win a trip to the NBA All-Star game simply by downloading the new Kwesé App, which allows you to watch Live NBA action at the click of a button. Download the Android app at Google Play, or the iOS verson at the App Store!
Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Boston’s Avery Bradley, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Detroit’s Andre Drummond, Golden State’s Kevin Durant, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Portland’s Damian Lillard, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas.
Courtesy: NBA.com
