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10 Best Players of the Week (12/17-12/23)


With another week of the NBA season in the books, in the pocket, and out of sight, it's time to take a look at the best players of the last week. If you missed last week's, click here. If not, let's get into it, these are the 10 best players of the week.

Kyrie Irving

The Boston Celtics might have lost their spot as #1 team in the Eastern Conference, but they're still one of the top teams in not only the conference but the entire league. Despite the loss of Gordon Hayward 6 minutes into their season opener, the Celtics are still going strong, with Kyrie Irving taking charge and leading the team to a 27-10 record. This past week (where the Celtics went 2-2), Irving averaged 30 points, 5 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 49% from the field, 49% from three-point range, and 93% from the free throw line. 

DeMar DeRozan

While all the attention has been on teams like the Warriors and the Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors have been able to slide into the top spot in the Eastern Conference following a perfect 4-0 week. Their success has largely been in part because of their all-star backcourt, with DeMar DeRozan being the one who played exceptionally well this past week. For the week, DeRozan averaged 30.8 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 52% from the field and 62% from three-point range. DeRozan's best game of the week came in the Raptors' win over the Philidelphia 76ers when he put up 45 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Jimmy Butler

While he flew under the radar during the beginning of the season, Jimmy Butler has found his way with the Minnesota Timberwolves and has made the Timberwolves a potential threat in the Western Conference, at least in the near future. This week, Butler led the Timberwolves to a perfect 3-0 record and pushed them up to a 20-13 record on the year. For the week, Butler averaged 31.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 55% from the field, 30% from three-point range, and 94% from the free throw line. 

Victor Oladipo

If he doesn't win Most Improved Player this year, then Victor Oladipo at least deserves praise for exceeding everyone's expectations this season. While most people, including me, had written off the Indiana Pacers before the season started, Oladipo has been able to not only keep them in playoff contention but has led them to a 19-14 record on the year, the 4th best in the Eastern Conference. This past week, Oladipo led the Pacers to a 3-1 record while averaging 31.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 57% from the field and 42% from three-point range. 

DeMarcus Cousins

Even with Anthony Davis having on-and-off injury problems this season, the New Orleans Pelicans have been able to barely stay in playoff contention with a 17-16 record, giving them the 8th seed in the Western Conference currently. This is largely because of DeMarcus Cousins, who has stepped up big time this season and has thrown his name in the MVP conversation. For the week, Cousins averaged 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.7 steals, and a block per game while shooting 55% from the field.

Kevin Durant

Even in the worst of times for the Golden State Warriors are better than the best of times for some teams. Even with Stephen Curry out with a sprained right ankle and Draymond Green's recent injury struggles, the Warriors haven't slipped up one bit, still managing to go 3-1 on the week without two of their all-stars. It's been up to Kevin Durant to lead the team, and he's been doing a fantastic job this past week. For the week, Durant averaged 27.3 points, 8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 90% from the free throw line.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo started off the season red-hot, and while he has cooled down a bit as the season has gone on, he's still putting up fantastic numbers as he tries to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a playoff run. This past week, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 2-0 record on the week while averaging 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field, 33% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. 

LeBron James

As the battle for supremacy rages on in the Eastern Conference, LeBron James has been leading the way for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who currently sit with the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference at 24-10. While James awaits the Cavaliers debut of Isaiah Thomas, who has been sidelined with a hip injury since the playoffs last season, he has been able to keep the Cavaliers as one of the top teams in the league behind the fantastic play we've come to expect from him. This past week, James led the Cavaliers to a 2-1 record on the week while averaging 31 points, 6 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 2 steals and a block per game while shooting 50% from the field, 44% from three-point range, and 94% from the free throw line. 

Russell Westbrook

Another week goes by on the calendar and another week goes by where the Oklahoma City Thunder gel as a team better. This past week, the Thunder went a perfect 4-0 behind their three all-star players. Specifically, it was Russell Westbrook leading the way, who averaged a near triple-double for the week as he helped boost the Thunder to an 18-15 record on the year. For the week, Westbrook averaged 29.8 points, 9 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range.

James Harden

And rounding out this list is James Harden, my pick for Player of the Week. Actually, he's a frequent pick of mine for the player of the week. And in this week especially, there was no doubt in my mind that he was the best player in the league over the last seven days. While the Rockets ended up going 1-2 on the week, they still hold the best record in the NBA at 25-6 behind Harden's leadership, who turned it up to 11 every time he stepped on the court this past week. For the week, Harden averaged an insane 42.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 44% from three-point range. This week also saw Harden put up 51 points in back-to-back games, once against the Lakers and then two days later against the Clippers. If Harden keeps up this kind of play, especially with Chris Paul back, we could potentially see the Rockets pull out an NBA Championship victory.

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