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: Luka Dončić
The Dallas Mavericks have been disappointing this year. After playing .500 basketball to start the season, the Mavericks fell off hard at the end of January and into February, losing six straight and dropping 8-13. This past week was a better look for the team, as they went 2-2, but they still find themselves in a hole at 10-14, the second-worst record in the West. Thankfully, Luka Dončić didn't go into a slump like the team did as a whole, as he has remained one of the best point guards in the league. This week was no different, as he averaged 30.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field and 43% from three-point range. Dončić would cap off the week by matching a career-high 42 points to push the Mavericks over the Warriors, adding 7 rebounds and 11 assists along the way.
Honorable Mentions:
Stephen Curry: 41 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 58% FG, 51% 3P, 100% FT
Trae Young: 24.7 PPG, 12.7 APG, 1 SPG, 44% FG, 38% 3P, 93% FT
Shooting Guard: Zach LaVine
Much like the Mavericks, the Chicago Bulls haven't had a very good season so far. Unlike the Mavericks, however, the expectations for the Bulls were pretty low. After posting their third straight season with a below .350 winning percentage, expectations were low for the Bulls, but so far, they've probably been exceeding expectations. That's not saying much, as they're currently 9-13 after going 2-2 this past week, but it's something positive, I guess. Leading the way for the Bulls this week was Zach LaVine, who's has continued to break out in Chicago and has become one of the league's best scorers. For the week, LaVine averaged 27.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 52% from the field and 38% from three-point range. LaVine would close out the week with one of his best scoring performances of the season, dropping 39 points in a huge win over the Magic, where he also grabbed 7 rebounds.
Honorable Mentions:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 25 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, 54% FG, 36% 3P
Bradley Beal: 28.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1 SPG, 46% FG, 37% 3P
Small Forward: LeBron James
It's quickly becoming a repetitive task to say that Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams to beat this season. While they aren't the best team in the league right now, but they're right on their tails, as they're currently 18-6 on the year after a perfect 3-0 week and find themselves just one game behind the league-best Utah Jazz. It's clear that the defending champions are going to be a force come playoff time, and they definitely will be if LeBron James keeps up this quality of play. Even at 36 years old, James is still one of the league's absolute best, and this week, he was just as dominant. For the week, James averaged 27 points, 7.3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field and 39% from three-point range. During the week, James would also notch his second triple-double of the year in a huge win over the Nuggets, where he put up 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Honorable Mentions:
Jayson Tatum: 29.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 5 APG, 2 SPG, 44% FG, 37% 3P
Kawhi Leonard: 28.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 52% FG, 38% 3P
Power Forward: Julius Randle
Much like the Bulls, the New York Knicks are a team that have been exceeding expectations this year...even though they still aren't good. As they haven't cracked a .400 win percentage in six years and didn't make any groundbreaking moves this offseason, the Knicks are managing to stay in the playoff hunt. The team is currently 11-14 on the year after a 2-2 week, and currently hold the eighth-place spot in the East. That's not great, but it's better than they usually do. Leading the way for the Knicks has been Julius Randle, whose breakout season has seen him put up huge numbers, especially this week. For the week, Randle averaged 24.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and 60% from three-point range. Randle was a huge part of both the Knicks' wins this week, as he dropped 27 points against the Bulls before putting up 22 points and 11 rebounds against the Trail Blazers.
Honorable Mentions:
DeMar DeRozan (Basketballreference.com lists him as a power forward so...):
24.7 PPG, 7 RPG, 6.3 APG, 53% FG
Harrison Barnes: 25.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 53% FG, 48% 3P
Center: Joel Embiid
Just like writing about how good the Lakers are each week, the choice for center of the week is becoming even more repetitive, as it basically comes down to two questions; "will I be writing a paragraph about Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokić this week?" and "will Nikola Vučević ever get his time to shine?" The answers this week are "Joel Embiid" and "probably not." Embiid has continued to play at a potential MVP-caliber level while the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves at the top of the East with a 17-7 record, something strengthened by their 3-1 outing this week. Embbid was a huge part of the team's continued success this week, averaging 34.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2 steals per game while shooting 59% from the field, 33% from three-point range, and 91% from the free throw line. After sitting out the team's first game of the week, Embiid returned strong with a 34 point, 11 rebound performance in a win over the Hornets.
Honorable Mentions:
Nikola Jokić: 36.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 57% FG, 70% 3P, 90% FT
Nikola Vučević: 24 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1 BPG, 46% FG, 32% 3P, 92% FT
6th Man: Tyrese Haliburton
After 14 straight years without a playoff appearance, things are currently looking like good for the Sacramento Kings. While they're only 12-11 on the year, they are in contention for a playoff spot and have a lot of momentum on their side, as they're on a four-game win streak that was extended thanks to a 3-0 outing this past week. The Kings were bolstered this week thanks to strong play by De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes, but the contributions of Tyrese Haliburton off the bench can't go unnoticed. The 12th overall pick in this 2020's draft has quickly become one of the best of the class, and this week was no different. For the week, Haliburton averaged 16.3 points, 6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and a perfect 3/3 from the free throw line. After an underwhelming start to the week, Haliburton would drop a career-high 21 points against the Celtics. A mark that was topped three days later when he scored 23 points against the Nuggets.
Honorable Mentions:
Josh Jackson: 20.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, 47% FG, 46% 3P
Chris Boucher: 15.5 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 61% FG, 42% 3P
Rookie: LaMelo Ball
I'm just going to have to keep eating my words in regards to LaMelo Ball this season, aren't I? The Charlotte Hornets haven't really had that great of a season so far, as they're currently 11-13 on the year after a 1-2 outing this week, but they remain a team with a lot of interest around the league. Part of it is the return to form for Gordon Hayward, but LaMelo is the star of the show in Charlotte. After spending the first month of the season coming off the bench, Ball has gotten his overdue promotion to the starting lineup, and he didn't disappoint. For the week, Ball averaged 23.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field, 47% from three-point range, and 92% from the free throw line. Ball's best performance of the week came in the last game of the week, as he dropped a career-high 34 points in a loss to the Jazz, adding 8 assists to go with it.
Honorable Mentions:
Cole Anthony: 15 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 48% FG, 42% 3P
Anthony Edwards: 15.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 44% FG, 37% 3P
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