Clippers forward Paul George and Nets forward Kevin Durant have been named the NBA’s players of the week, the league announced today (via Twitter).
George, the Western Conference winner, led the Clippers to a 3-1 record while averaging 32.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals on .560/.447/.818 shooting in 37.6 minutes per contest. L.A. defeated Houston (twice) and San Antonio during that stretch, falling to Utah, and currently hold a 5-5 record to start 2022/23.
Another veteran star, Durant, was the Eastern Conference winner. Like George, he led his team to a 3-1 record, averaging 30.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 blocks on .532/.368/1.000 shooting in 36.9 minutes. Brooklyn defeated Indiana, Washington and Charlotte and lost to Chicago last week, and the Nets are currently 4-6.
According to the NBA (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were Desmond Bane, Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox and Lauri Markkanen, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Paolo Banchero, Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray were nominated in the East.
Bane, Doncic, Fox, Markannen and Mitchell have all been nominated twice through three weeks. Antetokounmpo (one win) and No. 1 overall pick Banchero have been nominated three consecutive times.
PG was great for most of last night but Collin Sexton def outplayed him down the stretch. John Wall had a really good 2nd half individually but I feel like he took PG out his rhythm in the 4th
It’s crazy to me (in a good way) that Paolo has been nominated in all three weeks. He was billed as the most NBA-ready between him, Jabari, and Chet, and the Magic are reaping the rewards of that already. He’s already one of the most impressive players in the NBA so far, and if the Magic could translate that into wins they’d have a much better record.
Giannis & Luka!
Would you do Kyrie, handful of picks for PG13 and John Wall?
Not for a moment would I even entertain that. Kyrie shouldn’t be in this league. He isn’t mature enough.
So they both led teams who beat rat franchises and that makes them players of the week?