Now let's get into it, these are my picks for the best 15 players of the month of December.
DeMar DeRozan
The Toronto Raptors had a great December, going 11-3 on the month and moved up to the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference with a 25-10 record on the year. Leading the way for the Raptors was DeMar DeRozan, who had several huge games as he led the Raptors above the Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings. For the month, DeRozan averaged 25.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 47% from the field and 39% from three-point range. DeRozan's best game of the month came in the Raptors' win over the Philidelphia 76ers, with DeRozan putting up 45 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals
Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic did not capitalize on their early success this season, as they've gone 7-23 over the last two months after going 5-2 in October, giving them a 12-27 record on the year, the third worst in the league currently. However, Nikola Vucevic has been having a hell of a season for himself, and the month of December was no different for him before he went down with a hand injury. For the month, Vucevic averaged 19 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field, 30% from three-point range, and 91% from the free throw line. Vucevic's best performance of the month came in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, with Vucevic putting up his first triple-double of the season with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul's November and Chris Paul's December were like night & day. After a shaky November that saw him miss 14 games due to an injury, Paul came back with a vengeance in December and put up huge numbers for the entire month, as he was key to the Houston Rockets' success during the month. For the month, Paul averaged 21 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 94% from the free throw line. Paul had multiple great performances during the month, including his first triple-double of the season against the Utah Jazz and a 31 point, 7 rebound, 11 assists, and 2 steal outing in a win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers...were not good in the month of the December. A 5-8 outing over the last 31 days have them barely in playoff contention, currently tied for the 7th seed with the New Orleans Pelicans (the only team that can challenge them in terms of averageness.) Part of that might have to do with the absence of Damian Lillard towards the end of the month, as he was sidelined with a right hamstring strain. Before that, Lillard was putting up great numbers. For the month, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 5 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 42% from the field, 39% from three-point range, and 95% from the free throw line. Lillard's best performance came during a loss to the Golden State Warriors when he scored 39 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Karl-Anthony Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves are doing just as good as everyone expected them to this season. Following the big offseason additions of Jimmy Butler (I'll get to him shortly) and Jeff Teague, the Timberwolves find themselves in the 4th seed in the Western Conference with a 25-15 record. That record was improved after a 10-5 outing in December, with Karl-Anthony Towns being one of the players leading the way for them. For the month, Towns averaged 20.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and 46% from three-point range. Towns' best performance of the month came in a win over the Sacramento Kings when he put up 30 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks.
Jimmy Butler
Anyone that wondered whether or not Jimmy Butler would be able to fit into his new role with the Timberwolves as likely been silenced following a great month by the three-time all-star. Along with Karl-Anthony Towns, Butler was a huge driving force for Minnesota as they went 10-5 in December behind Butler's fantastic play over the last 31 days. For the month, Butler averaged 26.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 51% from the field and 92% from the free throw line. Butler's best performance of the month came in a win over the Denver Nuggets, with him putting up 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Anthony Davis
As I said earlier (and just about every week in my players of the week lists) the New Orleans Pelicans are painfully average this season. Following a December that saw them go 7-8, the Pelicans find themselves tied for the 7th seed in the Western Conference with the equally average Trail Blazers. However, the Pelicans would probably be in a much worse spot if it weren't for two of their fantastic players that find themselves among the top players of the month. The first of which is Anthony Davis. For the month, Davis averaged 26.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a league-best 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Davis' December ended with three huge games for the Brow, which saw him put up over 30 points in each game and saw him record 5 or more blocks in two games.
Victor Oladipo
One of the year's biggest surprises has been the Indiana Pacers. Following an offseason that saw the end of the Paul George-era in Indiana, along with the losses of Jeff Teague and CJ Miles, things were not looking good for the Pacers. However, they've managed to stay in playoff contention with a 19-19 record, slotting them at the 8th seed. A lot of their success has to do with another one of the season's biggest surprises; the rise of Victor Oladipo. The former #2 overall pick had shown signs of promise in his first four seasons, but it was the move to the Indiana Pacers that saw him truly break out. This month, Oladipo's Pacers might have only gone 7-8, but Oladipo still had a strong showing for himself before going on the DL with a knee injury. For the month, Oladipo averaged 28.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 51% from the field and 41% from three-point range. Oladipo's best performance of the month came in a win over the Denver Nuggets when he put up a career-high 47 points, along with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
Joel Embiid
Trusting the Process worked...in November. In December...not so much. After going 9-5 in November, the Philadelphia 76ers ended up going 5-10 in December, dropping them down to an 18-19 record on the year, just barely out of playoff contention. While December saw the 76ers' Ben Simmons have a down month following his great run in November, Joel Embiid has continued his fantastic sophomore season and continued to be one of the best players in the league. For the month, Embiid averaged 25.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 47% from the field, 38% from three-point range, and 87% from the field. Embiid's best performance of the month came in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers where he put up 33 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.
Kevin Durant
Despite the absence of Stephen Curry for the majority of December, the Golden State Warriors showed no signs of slowing down. Even without one of their best players, the Warriors managed to still managed to out-do every team, going 13-2 over the last 31 days to give them a 30-8 record on the year, which puts them at both the top of Western Conference and the NBA itself. Without Curry, it was Kevin Durant leading the way for the Warriors, and he didn't disappoint one bit. For the month, Durant averaged 27 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 48% from the field, 36% from three-point range, and 93% from the free throw line. Over a five-game stretch in December, Durant averaged a huge 34.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 3 blocks per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks have been...pretty good so far. Currently sitting in the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 20-16 record, the early season addition of Eric Bledsoe has certainly helped them out, as they went 8-6 in the month of December. While Bledsoe has been a big help for the Bucks, it's been Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way in December as he continues his run at the MVP award. For the month, Antetokounmpo averaged 29 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 55% from the field. Antetokounmpo's best performance came in a win over the Utah Jazz when he put up 37 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.
DeMarcus Cousins
If there's anyone who could be considered a dark horse for the MVP award this season, it has to be DeMarcus Cousins. Despite his teams' less than stellar run to start the season, Cousins has been putting up some of the best numbers of anyone in the league, and it was the exact same story for him in December. For the month, Cousins averaged 27.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field and 41% from three-point range. Cousins' best performance of the month came during a win over the Denver Nuggets (man, the Nuggets got torched a lot this month) when he recorded 40 points, 22 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. He might not win it this year, but DeMarcus Cousins should definitely be in the discussion for the MVP this year.
LeBron James
While the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't have as strong a month as some of their other Eastern Conference rivals (such as the Celtics & Raptors), but they still had a solid month for themselves. For the month of December, the Cavaliers went 9-5, which puts them at 25-13 and for the season and in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. The addition of Isaiah Thomas should be huge for them and Kevin Love had a solid month, but in the end, LeBron James stood above them all and the majority of the players in the league. For the month, James averaged 27.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 10.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 52% from the field and 35% from three-point range. On top of that, James recorded five triple-doubles during the month.
James Harden
Before the Houston Rockets' December took a huge turn south following a five-game losing streak, they were in the middle of a 14-game win streak, with eight of those wins coming in December. The Rockets ended the month with a 9-5 record, which gave them a 27-9 record on the year and the 2nd seed in the Western Conference. The return of Chris Paul was a huge factor in the Rockets' success this month, but it James Harden who was leading the way as he continues his MVP-caliber run. For the month, Harden averaged a league-high 33.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field, 37% from three-point range, and 87% from the free throw line. AdditionallyHarden also recorded 51 points on two separate occasions this month.
Russell Westbrook
And rounding out the list is my pick for the Player of the Month, the reigning MVP Russell Westbrook. While it took a bit of adjusting for the newly established big three of Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony to gel together, they managed to hit it off in December. Following a poor November where they went 4-9, they turned it around completely and went 12-5 in December. That boosted them up to a 21-17 record on the year and moved them into the 5th seed in the Western Conference. Needless to say, a lot of that success has to do with Russell Westbrook. For the month, Westbrook averaged a triple-double with 27.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and a league-best 10.6 assists per game while adding on 1.8 steals per game and shot 45% from the field. Additionally, Westbrook recorded 6 triple-doubles during the month and averaged 34.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1.8 steals per game over a four-game stretch. Don't be surprised if Westbrook is able to repeat as MVP this season.
Honorable Mentions
Andre Drummond (14.2 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52% FG)
Kyrie Irving (26.7 PPG, 4.6 APG, 50% FG, 44% 3FG, 94% FT)
Kevin Love (22.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 49% FG, 46% 3FG)
Lou Williams (25.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 43% FG, 43% 3FG)
Kristaps Porzingis (22.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 41% FG)
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