Antetokounmpo, Westbrook Named NBA Players of Week

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 2, through Sunday, Feb. 8.

Antetokounmpo shot 63.3 percent from the field (fifth in the East) and set single-game career highs in points and rebounds during Milwaukee’s 3-1 week. The second-year forward from Greece ranked among the East’s top 11 in scoring (19.5 ppg), rebounding (11.0) and blocks (1.75 bpg) for the week. In a 113-105 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 4, Antetokounmpo recorded 25 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Antetokounmpo, 20, posted personal bests of 27 points and 15 rebounds to go with four assists in a 117-111 loss to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 6, becoming the second-youngest player in the last 30 seasons (behind LeBron James) to put up those numbers.

Westbrook averaged 34.3 points (second in the NBA), 9.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists (sixth in the NBA) and 2.5 steals (tied for fifth in the NBA) as he helped the Thunder to a 3-1 record. The 26-year-old guard began the week with a triple-double of 25 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds in a 104-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on Feb. 2. The 2015 NBA All-Star then had a 45-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance in a 102-91 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 4, followed by a career-high 48-point, 11-assist, nine-rebound effort in a 116-113 loss to the Pelicans on Feb. 6. Westbrook joined Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in NBA history to finish with at least 45 points, five rebounds and five assists in back-to-back games.

via NBA press release