The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook were named Friday the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.
James lifted the Cavaliers to an East-best 11-4 record in March by leading the conference in scoring (24.7 ppg), ranking fourth in assists (7.3 apg), finishing sixth in steals (1.73 spg) and adding 6.3 rebounds. The 6-8 forward scored at least 20 points in 12 of 15 games, including two 30-point performances, and he shot 48.2 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range.
Westbrook averaged an NBA-high 30.9 points, was second in both assists (10.2 apg) and steals (2.5 spg), and contributed 8.5 rebounds (12th in the West) to lead Oklahoma City to a 10-5 month. The 6-3 guard had his second straight 30-point, 10-assist month, giving him two of three such months (minimum 10 games played) in the NBA over the last 40 years (James has the other, in February 2010).
James and Westbrook both won the award in their respective conferences for the second month in a row.
Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta's Paul Millsap, Brooklyn's Brook Lopez, Golden State's Stephen Curry, Houston's James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, Miami's Dwyane Wade, New Orleans' Anthony Davis, Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and Toronto's DeMar DeRozan.