LeBron James, Russell Westbrook named NBA Players of the Week

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 30.

James helped the Cavaliers to a 3-0 week behind averages of 21.0 points, 10.0 assists (third in the East) and 8.3 rebounds.  He opened the season on Oct. 25 with a triple-double, recording 19 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 117-88 victory over the New York Knicks.

Westbrook led the Thunder to a 3-0 week behind a league-leading 38.7 points and 11.7 assists to go with 12.3 rebounds (tied for fourth in the West). On Oct. 28, he posted 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 113-110 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns – the NBA’s first triple-double with 50 points since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975. He is also the first player in NBA history to tally at least 100 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists through his team’s first three games.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Boston’s Avery Bradley, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Detroit’s Andre Drummond, Golden State’s Kevin Durant, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Portland’s Damian Lillard, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas.