Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard named NBA Players of the Week

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 22.

The 76ers were 3-0 with Embiid in the lineup (3-1 for the week) as the 22-year-old rookie center averaged 22.0 points, 10.3 rebounds (tied for sixth in the East) and an NBA-leading 3.67 blocks.  He made 29 free throws to match the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler for the most in the East.

Leonard led the Western Conference in scoring (36.3 ppg) and added 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists as the Spurs went 3-0.  The 6-7 forward shot 56.5 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three-point range and 96.0 percent from the free throw line. In a 118-115 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 21, Leonard notched a career-high 41 points.

Other nominees for the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Dennis Schröder, Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris, Golden State’s Kevin Durant, Miami’s Goran Dragic, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe and Utah’s Rudy Gobert.