Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has been named Western Conference Player of the Month, while Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month, the NBA has announced.
Westbrook had a month like no other. He led the Thunder to a 10-3 record for the month by averaging 31.2 points, 10.3 assists, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. That is nearly a triple-double average for the month which is something that has not been done since Oscar Robertson in the 1970’s.
Russell Westbrook also shot 91.3 percent from the free-throw line and 45.7 percent from the field. He played most of the month without his superstar partner Kevin Durant. This is Westbrook’s first Player of the Month award.
LeBron James, on the other hand, averaged 24.4 points, 7.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in the month of February. He led the Cavaliers to an 8-3 record and shot 48.1 percent from the field.
James’s best game came against the Golden State Warriors on February 26 when the four-time MVP posted 42 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals to lead his team to victory against the NBA’s best. This is LeBron James’s 28th career Player of the Month honor.
The NBA also announced the Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month. Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart took those awards respectively.
Wiggins is beginning to show his full potential, as he averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the month of February. This is Wiggins’ fourth Rookie of the Month honor. Meanwhile, Marcus Smart averaged 9.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds over the course of the month. This will be his first Rookie of the Month award.