(2/25-3/3)
(3/4-3/10)
(3/11-3/17)
(3/18-3/24)
(3/25-3/31)
But if you're all caught up, let's get right into this. These are the 15 best players of the month for March 2018.
Blake Griffin
While the Detroit Pistons season ended in disappointment, as they'll be missing the playoffs for the second season in a row, but they do have something to look forward to. Andre Drummond had arguably the best season of his career and dominated on the glass all season long, Luke Kennard showed promise from beyond the arc, and a defensive trio of Drummond, Stanley Johnson, and Eric Moreland nearly landed them in the top ten for team defense. All of those players will be back for next season, as they look to return to the playoffs. And to top it off, Blake Griffin will also be back, and if he plays the way he did in March next year, a playoff run is very possible. While the Pistons failed to impress in March with a 7-8 record, Griffin put up great numbers for himself and some of the best numbers in the entire league for the month before going down with a bone bruise on his right ankle. In March, Griffin averaged 21.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field and 44% from three-point range. Over a six-game stretch, Griffin averaged 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field and 49% from three-point range.
Joel Embiid
Unlike the Pistons, one team in the Eastern Conference that will be making the playoffs is the Philidelphia 76ers. After showing several signs of promise during the season, the 76ers showed just how well trusting the Process has helped their team, as cement a playoff spot (their first playoff appearance in six years) largely thanks to a 13-3 outing in March. They now find themselves in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference and are currently on a franchise-best 15-game winning streak. A lot of their success had to do with Joel Embiid, who was putting up great numbers all month long before a fractured orbital bone took him out of action. For the month, Embiid averaged 19.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 45% from the field. Additionally, Embiid averaged 25.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three-point range. During that stretch, Embiid grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds in a win over the Charlotte Hornets, adding 25 points and 3 blocks along the way.
Dwight Howard
The Charlotte Hornets season has to be seen as nothing but troubling. Not only did they not improve at all (going 36-46 for the second year in a row) and didn't make the playoffs for the second year in a row, the uncertainty of Kemba Walker's future with the team is certainly not ideal for Hornets fan..all seven of them. A 6-9 outing certainly did not help their case to be a playoff team, but one bright spot they did have during the month was the play of Dwight Howard. While he's not the MVP-caliber player he was for several years in Orlando, Howard can still put up top-notch numbers, as he showed this March. For the month, Howard averaged 20.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Also during the month, Howard joined the exclusive 30-30 club when he scored 32 points and grabbed a career-high 30 rebounds in a win over the Brooklyn Nets, becoming just the eighth player to do so. Howard also scored a season-high 33 points in a win over the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 22.8 points and 17.8 rebounds while shooting 58% from the field during a five-game stretch.
Julius Randle
Unless your name is Lavar Ball, I don't think anyone realistically expected the Los Angeles Lakers to make the playoffs this year. While they have a lot of young talent and improved over last year, the Lakers missed out on the playoffs for the fifth season in a row. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Lakers in the playoffs next year, but will just have to wait to see if that happens. The Lakers only went 7-8 in March but did see one of their players put up some great numbers, and that man was Julius Randle. While Randle is by no means a bad player, nobody expected him to put up the great numbers that he did in March. For the month, Randle averaged 22.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 57% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Randle's best performance of the month came in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers when he put up a career-high 36 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists while shooting 14/18 (78%) from the field.
Andre Drummond
As I said earlier, the Detroit Pistons season ended in a disappointment as they failed to clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row, but they do have a lot to look forward to next season. One of the key reasons to stay positive was Blake Griffin, and another was another player I mentioned earlier in Andre Drummond. Like Griffin, Drummond will be not just be returning next season but will be part of the team for several years. Also like Griffin, Andre Drummond had a great month of March, and his stat line shows it. For the month, Drummond averaged 14.7 points, 16.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field. Drummond grabbed 20 or more rebounds during the month and, over a four-game stretch, averaged 17.8 points, an insane 20.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field
Nikola Jokic
It came down to the wire, but unfortunately for the Denver Nuggets, they will not be going to the playoffs for the fifth season in a row. After a full season where they went 46-35, it came down to the last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves; winner moves on to the playoffs, and the Timberwolves won it in o Going back to March, the Nuggets went 8-7 during the month, and leading the way for the team was Nikola Jokic. A legit triple-threat player, Jokic had a standout month of March as his team fought to get into the playoffs. For the month, despite starting with a three-game slump, Jokic averaged 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field, 46% from three-point range, and 86% from the free throw line. Jokic also recorded two triple-doubles.
LaMarcus Aldridge
The San Antonio Spurs were able to secure a playoff spot, they didn't do it in the prettiest fashion. Currently holding a 47-34 record (the first time they'll have a winning percentage below .600), the Spurs hold the sixth seed but could fall as low as the eighth seed if they lose their last game of the season. This season all saw increasing tension with their star player in Kawhi Leonard, who missed almost the entire season due to injuries. As I said, it wasn't pretty, but they made it to the playoffs. As for March, they went 8-6, and it was LaMarcus Aldridge who led the way for the team. While no one would say Aldridge is better than Leonard, he was able to hold his own all season long, and he went above and beyond this past month. In March, Aldridge averaged 26.1 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field. Aldridge's put up a career-high 45 points in a win over the Utah Jazz and averaged 32.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field.
Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers are back in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row, finishing the year with a 49-33 record, their best record in four years. Their success has a lot to do with their huge run in March, which helped boost them to the third seed in the Western Conference. A 12-3 record for the month was in large part due to the top-notch play of Damian Lillard, who looks to lead them to a possible NBA Championship run. For the month, Lillard averaged 27.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field, 35% from three-point range, and 91% from the free throw line. Lillard's best performance of the month came in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans when he put up 41 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Also, during a seven-game stretch, Lillard averaged 30.7 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 41% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
Kevin Durant
The Golden State Warriors had a rough month of March. While they did go 7-7, the month saw three of their all-stars go down with injuries. Specifically, Stephen Curry went down with an injury as soon as he came back and now he'll likely be out for the first round of the playoffs. Another one of the players who missed a lot of games in March was Kevin Durant. However, he did miss enough for me to not put him on this list, and his numbers were too good to not put him on. For the month, Kevin Durant averaged 28.3 points, 7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field, 42% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. Durant's best performance of the month came in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers when he put up 40 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Additionally, Durant averaged 31.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 89% from the free throw line.
Karl-Anthony Towns
After nearly choking it away, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to hold on and cement their spot in the playoffs, ending a 13-year drought. Not even Kevin Garnett or Kevin Love could end that drought, but Karl-Anthony Towns was able to. While the Timberwolves had a rough month in March (going 6-7), it didn't slow down Towns, who put up great numbers and was still able to lead his team to the playoffs. For the month, Towns averaged 25.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field and 51% from three-point range. Towns' best performance of the month was easily his career-high, franchise-record breaking, 56-point performance in a win over the Atlanta Hawks, adding 15 rebounds during the game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks might not have had the smoothest season, but they did manage to secure a playoff spot for the second year in a row. Their 8-7 record during the month of March didn't light the world on fire, but it was good enough for them to make the playoffs. Leading the way for the Bucks for the month of March was Giannis Antetokounmpo, who continued to put up the great numbers that he did all season long. For the month, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and 42% from three-point range. During a six-game stretch in March, Antetokounmpo averaged 31 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and
James Harden
The season is over, and it's the Houston Rockets are the team on top of the entire league. Ending the year with a 65-17 record, the Rockets will be heading into the playoffs with the #1 seed in the Western Conference and are now among the favorites to win the NBA Championship for the first time since 1995. A 14-1 outing in March certainly helped their case, and a lot of their success in March is owed to James Harden, one of the heavy favorites for the MVP this season. For the month, Harden averaged 28.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field. Harden scored 40 or more points in two games and recorded his fourth triple-double of the year this month in a win over the Atlanta Hawks. Additionally, Harden averaged 32 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal per game while shooting 44% from the field, 31% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line.
Anthony Davis
The post-Chris Paul-era in New Orleans has not been great, as they had only made the playoffs once since Paul departed. Until this season, that is. The New Orleans Pelicans have managed to make the playoffs this year for the first time since 2015 with a 48-34 record, giving them the 6th seed in the Western Conference. Even after the season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans were able to hold on and clinch a playoff berth. 8-7 outing in March didn't light the world on fire, but it was good enough to help them make the playoffs. In the absence of Cousins, the man the Pelicans looked to lead them to the playoffs was Anthony Davis, and he delivered, especially in March. For the month, Davis averaged 28.1 points, 11 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and a league-high 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field, 31% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. Davis had multiple great games this month, including a 41 point, 13 rebound, 3 steal, and 4 block performance in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers and a 25 point, 11 rebound, and 10 block triple-double in a loss to the Utah Jazz. Additionally, Davis averaged 30.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 3 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field and 87% from the free throw line during a nine-game stretch this month.
Russell Westbrook
The man did it again. After becoming the just the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, Rusell Westbrook made history and repeated his amazing feat this season, becoming the first player in history to average a triple-double for an entire season twice. Say what you will if you think he's just padding his stats, averaging 10 points, rebounds, and assists a game for an entire season is not easy. And it didn't come at the expense of his team, as the Thunder will be making the playoffs again this year as the 4th seed with a 48-34 record on the year. While the additions of Paul George & Carmelo Anthony certainly played a big role for them, it's hard to argue that Westbrook led the way for them, especially in March when they went 8-6 for the month. In March, Westbrook averaged 27.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Westbrook managed to record five triple-doubles in a row in March, averaging 24.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 11.6 assists per game during that stretch.
LeBron James
And rounding out my list for player of the month and the final full month of the NBA season is the King himself, LeBron James. The Cleveland Cavaliers certainly had a chaotic season, with several moves being made before and during the season. Chemistry issues early on and in the middle of the season definitely hurt the team quite a bit, but they were able to secure a playoff spot, earning the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 50-32 record on the season. A 10-6 record in March helped them clinch that playoff berth, and they can thank LeBron James for most of that success. For the month, James averaged a league-high 30.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 55% from the field and 36% from three-point range. James recorded four triple-doubles during the month and, during an eight-game stretch, averaged 32.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 10 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 58% from the field and 30% from three-point range. Is LeBron James good enough to lead the fourth seed to an NBA Championship victory? Will have to wait and see, but few can argue that James was the best player during the month of March.
Honorable Mentions
Ben Simmons (12.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 10.6 APG, 1.3 SPG, 57% FG)
DeAndre Jordan (14.4 PPG, 17.1 RPG, 64% FG)
Rudy Gobert (16.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 68% FG)
Donovan Mitchell (23 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 43% FG)
Jrue Holiday (18.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 48% FG, 38% 3FG)
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