LeBron James and James Harden have been named the player of the month for their respective conferences for the months of October and November.
James is averaging 28 points, 8.2 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks through 22 games, while shooting a career-high 58.3 per cent from the field in his 15th season. This marks the 35th time that he is a recipient of the monthly award, the most in NBA history.
After a rocky start with some new faces on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, the defending Eastern conference champions have reeled off 10 straight wins to move up to third in the conference at 15-7.
DeMar DeRozan was among those receiving an honourable mention for the award.
Harden is averaging 31.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.7 steals over 21 games while helping the Houston Rockets to the best record in the Western Conference at 17-4.
That top record in the conference also earned Mike D’Antoni the West coach of the month award, while Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics took home the award in the East for leading his team to a league-best record of 19-4.
On the rookie end of things, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers was rewarded the East’s rookie of the month and is on pace for one of the best rookie seasons in history after averaging 18.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.3 steals through his first 20 games.
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ Kyle Kuzma won the West rookie of the month for averages of 16.7 points on 50.4 per cent shooting from the field and 6.1 rebounds.
You can read more about candidates for the big year-end awards here.
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