The double for the Thunder since if Chet Holmgren was again elected “Rookie of the month” for December, it is his teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was named “Player of the Month” during the period.
This is a big first for the leader of Oklahoma City, who averaged 31.9 points, 6.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds, his team having won 10 of its 13 games over the period. Enough to allow him to be preferred to Anthony Davis (LA Lakers), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Kevin Durant (Phoenix), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento) but also Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers) in the West.
In the East, the NBA has opted for Giannis Antetokounmpoand this is the 10th time that the “Greek Freak” has been honored in this way.
With 32.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists, the Bucks winger gets the best of Bam Adebayo (Miami), Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner (Orlando), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner (Indiana), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland), Julius Randle (New York), Coby White (Chicago) and Derrick White (Boston).
We would also have thought that Joel Embiid was best placed to win this “Player of the Month” trophy in the East, by averaging more than 40 points over the period, but the Sixers pivot missed a few games which undoubtedly weighed, while Giannis Antetokounmpo still won 11 matches out of 13 played.
