Now let's get into it, these are my picks for the best 15 players of the month of January.
Jimmy Butler
The further along the season goes, the more the Minnesota Timberwolves look like a team that'll be future NBA Champions. Currently holding a 33-22 record, the Timberwolves sit in the 4th seed in the Western Conference and have the 6th best record in the entire league. The current starting five they have is great right now, but the key factor was the offseason addition of three-time (now four-time) all-star in Jimmy Butler. After a bit of an underwhelming start to his season, Butler found his footing and played his way to another all-star selection. This month, he continued his great season. For the month, Butler averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field, 46% from three-point range, and 85% from the free throw line.
Damian Lillard
After a bad showing in December (5-8 on the month), the Portland Trail Blazers came back with a vengeance and posted up an 11-5 month in January. That puts them at a 29-23 record on the season and puts them at 6th in the Western Conference. While that run in January was helped by the scoring machine they have in CJ McCollum, it was Damian Lillard who led the way for the Blazers. The now two-time all-star had a great showing in January. For the month, Lillard averaged 25.1 points, 7 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 50% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. Over a seven-game stretch this month, Lillard boasted an impressive stat line of 28.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 52% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 92% from the free throw line.
Kyrie Irving
Can Kyrie Irving lead a team to success on his own? Well, according to the standings...yes...yes he can. Following his controversial exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers via a trade to the Boston Celtics, Irving wasted no time establishing himself as the team's leader as he led the Celtics to the top of the Eastern Conference. Even without a fellow all-star in Gordon Hayward, Irving and the Celtics currently sit with a conference-best 38-15 record, the third best in the NBA. The Celtics only went 7-5 in January, but Irving had himself a great month worth mentioning. For the month, Irving averaged 25.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 85% from the free throw line.
John Wall
John Wall was all set to make his fifth all-star appearance in February. Unfortunately, the injury bug caught up with him, as a knee injury will keep him out for six-to-eight weeks. While the injury is unfortunate, Wall was having a pretty good run in January before his knee gave out on him. While his team went 5-6 with him on the court, Wall still managed to put up some noteworthy stats that showed why he deserved his all-star selection. For the month, Wall averaged 21.9 points, a league-high 10.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 42% from the field and 43% from three-point range. Wall's best performance of the month came in a loss to the Utah Jazz where he put up a season-high 35 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals.
Lou Williams
Man...Lou Williams has been red-hot over the last couple of months. After having a great December where he could have been considered one of the best players of the month, Williams went into January and put up even better stats. With the Los Angeles Clippers going 9-6 on the month, Williams was the one to lead the team in scoring and helped boost the team to a 25-25 record on the year, just one game out of the playoffs. For the month, Williams averaged 28.2 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field, 36% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. Williams best performance of the month came in a huge upset win over the Golden State Warriors when Williams put up a career-high 50 points and 7 assists.
Chris Paul
James Harden did not make this list. He only played 8 games, which means he barely missed the cut I have for my lists. However, the Houston Rockets do not go without representation on this list, especially after going 10-4 in January and improving to a 37-13 record on the year, the second-best record in the Western Conference and the league. That representation comes from Chris Paul, who led the Rockets as Harden was absent for most of the month and didn't disappoint. For the month, Paul averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field, 41% from three-point range, and 92% from the free throw line. Paul had two top-notch performances this month, including a season-high 38 point, 8 assist outing in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and a 37 point, 7 rebound, 11 assist, 3 steal outing in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Joel Embiid
If the Philadelphia 76ers don't make the playoffs this year, is the Process considered a failure? Well, the 76ers are trying to find that out, as they're fighting for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. A 7-5 record in January slightly helped them out, as they now have a 25-24 record on the year, but only hold a 1.5 game lead over the 9th seed Detroit Pistons. However, if Joel Embiid keeps playing the way he has all season, and especially this past month, they should be able to hold onto it. Embiid, now officially an all-star for the first time, put up great numbers as he looks set to become the NBA's next great big man. For the month, Embiid averaged 23.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field and 31% from three-point range. Embiid's best performance of the month came in a win over the Toronto Raptors when he put up 34 points and 11 rebounds.
Andre Drummond
After initially being snubbed for the All-Star game, Andre Drummond is officially on Team LeBron following John Wall's injury. Personally, I think he should of made it right off the bat, as he has been having a standout season. While his team is struggling (24-26 on the year), Drummond is putting up a league and career best in rebounds and has shown a huge 23% increase in his free throw percentage. Drummond kept up those great numbers into January, despite the Pistons' miserable 3-11 showing during the month. For the month, Drummond averaged 16.5 points, a league-high 15.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field. Also during the month, Drummond grabbed 20 or more rebounds in four games, three or more steals in four games, and three or more blocks in four games.
Kevin Durant
The Golden State Warriors have been sitting at the very top of the NBA for the majority of the season, and they look like they have no intention of letting anyone come anywhere close to knocking them off the top. Already 29-8 after December, the Warriors went 11-3 in January, and now have a 41-11 record after one win in February so far. Naturally, having four all-stars on your team makes you one of , if not the most dangerous group in the entire league. Two of those all-stars were responsible for leading the way for the Warriors, and the first of them was Kevin Durant, a now 9-time all-star. For the month, Durant averaged 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 52% from the field, 45% from three-point range, and 86% from the free throw line. Durant had two fantastic performances that rank above the others, including a 40 point, 4 rebound, 4 assist outing in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and a 28 point, 10 rebound, 11 assist triple-double in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron James
This season for the Cleveland Cavaliers has been...weird. After a lackluster 5-7 start to the season, the Cavs broke off with a 13-game winning streak, and after that streak got broken, they followed it up right after with a 5-game winning streak. And then...it's just been bad. The Cavs are 7-12 in their last 19 games after going 18-1 in the 19 before that. Maybe it an inability to gel as a team, maybe's it because of Isaiah Thomas' poor shooting since returning from injury, but either way, something needs to change for the Cavs. However, LeBron James is still playing great and continued to play great in January despite the Cavs going 6-8 on the month. For the month, James averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field.
Stephen Curry
As I said earlier, the Golden State Warriors are on top of the NBA right now, and after an 11-3 outing in January that helped boost their record to 41-11 on the year, they've no signs that they want to share the throne. Leading the way for them was two of their all-stars. I've already talked about Kevin Durant, so now, I'm turning my attention to one of the all-star captains and a now five-time all-star in Stephen Curry. For the month, Curry averaged a league-best 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 51% from, 46% from three-point range, and 87% from the free throw line. Curry put up 45 or more points on two separate occasions in January, including a season-high 49 points in a win over the Boston Celtics.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Things have been looking up for the Milwaukee Bucks lately. Since firing head coach Jason Kidd, the Bucks have gone 4-1, Khris Middleton is averaging over 20 points a game, and Jabari Parker has finally returned to the team following his torn ACL last season. While the month of January wasn't anything worth bragging about for the Bucks (8-7 on the month), things are looking for them right now and for the near future. Of course, leading the way for the Bucks in January was their now two-time all-star in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who continues to make a run at the MVP this season. For the month, Antetokounmpo averaged 27 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, a steal, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Antetokounmpo's best performance of the month came in a win over the Brooklyn Nets when he put up 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.
DeMarcus Cousins
It's always a shame when someone goes down with an injury, and it's even worse when a player who's putting up MVP-caliber numbers has his season cut short by the injury bug. That's what happened to DeMarcus Cousins, who had his season ended following a torn Achilles towards the end of January. Before that happened, Cousins was one of the best players in the entire league as he, along with Anthony Davis, were looking at a playoff run. While the injury takes him out for the rest of the season, Cousins was still having a dominant January before his injury. For the month, Cousins averaged 22.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 44% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Cousins best performance of the month was easily his historic outing in a double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls where he put up a season-high 44 points, a season-high 23 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming only the fifth player to ever pull off a 40-20-10 game and the first to do so since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972.
Anthony Davis
While Anthony Davis was a driving force for the New Orleans Pelicans, he didn't lead them alone, as he had another all-star on his side. That all-star was Anthony Davis. The now five-time all-star, Davis had a fantastic showing throughout the month of January, as he & Cousins led the Pelicans to a 9-5 record on the month, boosting them up to a 28-23 record on the year and giving them the 7th seed in the Western Conference. For the month, Davis averaged 27.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 52% from the field and 85% from the free throw line. Davis had back-to-back games in January where he put up over 45 points and 15 rebounds each game (48 & 17 in one and 45 & 16 in the next.)
Russell Westbrook
And rounding out my list is my pick for the Player of the Month. For the second month in a row, it's the reigning MVP, Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has been following up his fantastic 2016-17 season with an almost as good 2017-18 season. Now with a team with two other former all-stars that is capable of getting wins, Westbrook is an even better position than he was last season. And the Oklahoma City Thunder's record shows that. Currently 30-23 on the year, the Thunder improved that record big time in January with a 10-4 record, and they now hold the 5th seed in the Western Conference. Leading the team this month was, of course, Russell Westbrook. For the month, Westbrook averaged 27.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting 48% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Westbrook had several stellar showings this past month, just as stellar as that alliteration I busted out right there. These include three separate triple-doubles, a season-high 46 point, 6 rebound, 6 assist outing in a win over the Washington Wizards, and season-high 20 assist, 23 point, 9 rebound outing in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Certainly, this was a fantastic month for Russell Westbrook.
Honorable Mentions
Karl-Anthony Towns (18.6 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 56% FG, 40% 3FG, 88% FT)
Bradley Beal (25.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 50% FG, 41% 3FG)
DeMar DeRozan (25.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 45% FG, 33% 3FG, 85% FT)
Kemba Walker (24.3 PPG, 6.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 43% FG, 42% 3FG)
Dwight Howard (17 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 2.9 BPG, 57% FG)
ish smith snubbed
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