NIKOLA JOKIĆ NAMED NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jokić wins the award for the first time this season and has now earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors 10 times in his career, tying Carmelo Anthony for the most in franchise history.
Jokić, 26, averaged 36.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 2.30 steals, shooting .650 from the field and .400 from three-point range while helping lead the Nuggets to a 2-1 week. The Nuggets have now won six of their last nine games, improving to sixth in the Western Conference at 24-21.
Jokić kicked off the week by registering a season-high 49 points (16-25 FG, 3-5 3FG, 14-16 FT), 14 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in a season-high 41 minutes, earning an overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on 1/19. Jokić joined Larry Bird and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to put up 49+ points, 14+ rebounds, 10+ assists and 3+ steals in game. He also became only the second center since 1970-71 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 1975) to have a 45+ point triple double in a winning effort and it was the fourth most points ever in a triple double by a center. The Joker then posted 26 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and two steals vs. Memphis on 1/21, marking his fourth straight game with a triple double and league leading 11th game overall. Jokic capped his week by registering 34 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 36 minutes in a home victory over Detroit on 1/23.
The Sombor, Serbia native, leads the NBA in PER, is second in rebounds per game, seventh in points per game and ninth in assists per game while averaging 26.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.40 steals in 33.2 minutes per game. He also ranks first in the NBA in field goal makes, while ranking 19th in field goal attempts.
