It's Monday, you know what that means! It's time to take a look back at the past week and see who the best players were around the league. Click here to check out last week's if you missed it. If not, let's get into this.
Point Guard: Damian Lillard
Before the season started, I expressed my doubts about the Portland Trail Blazers even making the playoffs this year. While they haven't been as bad as I thought they were going to be, they haven't been spectacular by any means. Currently 10-8 on the season, the Blazers went .500 on the week with two wins and two losses. They're not playing well enough to avoid the play-in tournament, but they're are staying afloat so far, and a big reason they've been doing that is Damian Lillard. As usual, Lillard has been among the league's best point guards this season, and this week, he was the best of the bunch. For the week, Lillard averaged 34.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field, 44% from three-point range, and 93% from the free-throw line. Lillard capped off his impressive week with his best performance of the season, dropping a season-high 44 points while adding 5 rebounds and 9 assists in a win over the Bulls
Honorable Mentions
Luka Dončić: 29.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 51% FG, 36% 3P
Trae Young: 35.7 PPG, 8 APG, 46% FG, 46% 3P, 95% FT
Shooting Guard: James Harden
After their lackluster start, the Brooklyn Nets took their fate into their own hands when they made the biggest trade the NBA has seen in a long time. Landing James Harden has, unsurprisingly, been huge for the Nets, as they went from 7-6 before the trade to going 6-2 after it, putting them at 13-9 on the year and second in the East. Whenever I do these lists, you can almost guarantee one of the Nets' big three is going to be on it, and this week, their most recent addition gets the nod. In a week that saw the Nets go a perfect 3-0, Harden was excellent, averaging 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 11.3 assists, a steal, and a block per game while shooting 57% from the field and 55% from three-point range. During the week, Harden would drop 31 points and 15 assists against the Hawks, a performance that was followed by his third triple-double of the year in a big win over the Thunder, which saw him put up 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Honorable Mentions
Bradley Beal: 34.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 43% FG, 92% FT
Zach LaVine: 28 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, 65% FG, 67% 3P
Small Forward: LeBron James
As the season progresses, the West continues to see a tight race at the top, with the best three teams are all within a single game of each other. Currently bringing up the rear of that trio are the Los Angeles Lakers, who sit at 15-6 after a 2-2 outing this past week. Despite only being in third in the conference right now, the defending champions look poised to be a dominant force come the playoffs. This will especially be the case if LeBron James keeps playing the way he did this past week. For the week, James averaged 30.8 points, 7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 55% from the field and 49% from three-point range. James kicked off the week with his best performance of the season, dropping 46 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists, and recording 2 steals and blocks each in a win over the Cavaliers.
Honorable Mentions
Kawhi Leonard: 29 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 56% FG, 40% 3P, 100% FT
Brandon Ingram: 25 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1 BPG, 49% FG, 44% 3P
Power Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Despite the strengthening of their roster with the addition of Jrue Holiday, the Milwaukee Bucks haven't been playing as well as a lot of people had hoped. Currently 11-8 on the season, the Bucks are among the top teams in the East, but you'd expect bigger things from a team with the two-time and reigning MVP and two higher-tier players by his side. 2-2 outings like this past week are likely a bit underwhelming for fans of Milwaukee. Still, it's not all bad, obviously, as the aforementioned two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had a standout week for the team. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.8 points, 15.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field. Antetokounmpo would record a double-double in each of the Bucks' two wins this week, with his best performance seeing him record 24 points, a season-high 18 rebounds, and 9 assists in a win over the Raptors
Honorable Mentions
Kevin Durant: 26 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 BPG, 40% FG, 32% 3P
Anthony Davis: 22.3 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 42% FG
Center: Joel Embiid
After their strong start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have built off of that and remain hot at the end of January. Currently 15-6 on the season, the 76ers stand at the top of the Eastern Conference, with a 3-1 week only strengthen their position in the standings. Leading the way for the 76ers has been Joel Embiid, whose excellent play this season has helped establish him as not just the best center in the league, but one of the league's best players. This week was no different, as in the two games he played, Embiid averaged 32.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and a block per game while shooting 49% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Embiid's best performance of the week came in the 76ers' blowout win over the Timberwolves, where he put up 37 points and 11 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the year.
Honorable Mentions
Rudy Gobert: 21.3 PPG, 17 RPG, 1 SPG, 3 BPG, 60% FG
Nikola Jokić: 25.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, 61% FG, 33% 3P
6th Man: Michael Porter Jr.
While the battle for the top spot in the Western Conference is currently a three-team race, the Denver Nuggets are right behind that trio of top teams. Currently sitting at 12-8 on the year, the Nuggets have improved their spot in the standings this past week, as they went 2-1 and now sit 2.5 games behind the third-place Los Angeles Lakers. While most of the focus on the Nuggets has been around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, but Michael Porter Jr. has been a big part of their success this past week. After missing 10 games due to COVID-19 protocols (don't sow if you don't want to reap), Porter Jr. returned last week as a reserve and, this past week, thrived in his new role. For the week, Porter Jr. averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2 steals per game while shooting 57% from the field and 58% from three-point range. In his third game back, Porter Jr. put up one of his best performances of the season, dropping a season-high 30 points and 8 rebounds in a win over the Mavericks
Honorable Mentions
Anfernee Simons: 16 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 49% FG, 52% 3P
Patty Mills: 15 PPG, 1.8 SPG, 49% FG, 39% 3P, 100% FT
Rookie: Immanuel Quickley
The New York Knicks have been exceeding expectations this year. That's not to say they've been good, because they're 9-12 on the season, but I didn't expect them to be anywhere close to .500 at this point of the season. A 1-2 outing this past week doesn't help them hold their spot in the standings, but they're still playing better than I thought they would. And on the bright side, one of their rookies has also been exceeding expectations in a big way, and that rookie is Immanuel Quickley. The 20th pick in the draft, Quickley has made the most of his opportunities and looks like the biggest steal of the draft early on, with this past week being his best of the season, so far. For the week, Quickley was in great form, averaging 20.7 points and 4 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from the field and 50% from three-point range. In the Knicks' sole win this week, Quickley led the way with 25 points and 5 rebounds as the Knicks beat the Cavaliers.
Honorable Mentions
Anthony Edwards: 18.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 40% FG, 50% 3P, 91% FT
LaMelo Ball: 14.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 52% FG
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