NBA Announces January Award Winners
The NBA announced its Players of the Month for January today, . Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers was named the Western Conference Player of the Month, while Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics earned the honor in the Eastern Conference.
Luka Dončić’s Dominant January
Dončić’s performance in January was described as “video game numbers,” averaging 34.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. The Lakers posted a 9-7 record during the month. His scoring average was the best in the league for January. He had several standout performances, including a 38-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Denver Nuggets on January 20th, and a 46-point performance with 12 assists and 7 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on January 26th. He also recorded 37 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds, and three steals in a win over the Washington Wizards on January 30th. Dončić shot 39.2% from beyond the arc on nearly 10 attempts during January.
Jaylen Brown Recognized in the East
Jaylen Brown continues to elevate his game, solidifying his position among the top players in the Eastern Conference. He is considered a contender in the MVP race, succeeding Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson as Player of the Month.
Rookies of the Month: Flagg and Knueppel Continue to Shine
For the third consecutive month, Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets have been named the Kia NBA Rookies of the Month. Flagg averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in January, while Knueppel posted 20.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Knueppel has now earned the award for three straight months.
Defensive Standouts: Wembanyama and Thompson Honored
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was named the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month. He ranked second in the West in blocks (2.2 per game) and defensive rebounds (8.2), and second in defensive rating (108.1) during January. Ausar Thompson earned the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month award, leading the league in steals and playing for a top defensive team.
Coaches of the Month Recognized
Jordan Ott, head coach of the Phoenix Suns, and Charles Lee, head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in January. Ott led the Suns to 11 wins in 16 games, while Lee guided the Hornets to a strong finish to the month with seven consecutive wins.
