Joel Embiid
The Process worked. This week it did, at least. The Philidelphia 76ers had a strong showing this week, winning all three of their games and improving to 5-4 on the week. There great week was mostly thanks to two specific players. The first of which was Joel Embiid. For the week, Embiid averaged 20.3 points, 10 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field.
Stephen Curry
As expected, the Golden State Warriors have straightened out following their early struggles in the season, currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference with a 7-3 record after going 2-1 on the week. Stephen Curry, as he was last week and has been for many years, was a big part of the Warriors' success. For the week, Curry averaged 26.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 61% from the field and 59% from three-point range.
Ben Simmons
If there was anyone wondering how Ben Simmons would do after missing his entire rookie season, this week might have just been the showcase he needed. The second 76er on the list, Simmons had been having a really good season, which only got better after this week. For the week, Simmons averaged 19 points, 10.3 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and a block per game while shooting 52% from the field. Simmons looks set to be a front-runner for the Rookie of the Year and looks to be a future all-star.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Despite a rough week for the Milwaukee Bucks (a 1-3 record on the week, knocking them down to a 4-5 record on the season), Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued his top-notch play for the season, leading the league in points per game with 31 per game and being among the top 20 in rebounds per game with 9.9 per game. For this past week, Antetokounmpo averaged 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Antetokounmpo might not have had as strong a week as he had the past two, but it was still one of the best out of the league and he remains an early front-runner for MVP
Kristaps Porzingis
The Knicks stumbled out of the gate to start the season after trading away Carmelo Anthony, but have adjusted to their new line-up and have improved to a 4-4 record for the year, with three of those wins coming this last week. The Knicks' early success has largely been contributed to Kristaps Porzingis, who has perfectly stepped into his new role as the leader of the Knicks. For the week, Porzingis averaged 31.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and 44% from three-point range. If Porzingis keeps up this kind of play, he could lead New York to a playoff spot.
James Harden
Another week goes by, and another week where James Harden plays some of the best basketball out of anyone in the league. This week, Harden led the still Chris Paul-less Houston Rockets to a 2-1 record on the week and improved their record to a Western Conference-best 7-3 record. For the week, Harden averaged 29.7 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting
DeMarcus Cousins
Following his top-notch performances last week that earned him the Western Conference Player of the Week (and was my pick for Player of the Week), DeMarcus Cousins continued his dominant play into the next week, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 2-2 record for the week with another player who will be showing up later in the list. For the week, Cousins averaged 23 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 42% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers didn't have that good of a week, going 1-2 for the week, but Damian Lillard definitely had a great week. For the week, Lillard averaged 33.7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 47% from the field, 31% from three-point range, and 97% from the free throw line.
Anthony Davis
After going down with a knee injury that caused him to miss a game last week, Anthony Davis came back and pretty much instantly took back his spot as one of the league's best big men, leading the New Orleans Pelicans to a 2-2 record on the week along the way with Cousins. For the week, Davis averaged 30 points, 12.3 rebounds, a steal, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field.
LeBron James
Rounding out the list is my pick for the player of the week, LeBron James. Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers continuing to struggle this past week, going 1-2 and falling to a losing record, James continued to play as well as he always has and was an easy choice for best player of the week. For the week, James averaged 35.3 points, 9 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and a block a game while shooting 62% from the field, 31% from three-point range and 93% from the free throw line. James capped off his week with a huge 57 point, 11 rebound game to help the Cavs beat the Washington Wizards and snap a four-game losing streak. The Cavs might be struggling right now, but if LeBron continues to play the way he always does, they should get back on track.
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