James Harden named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, joins Kevin Durant

The NBA announced Monday that James Harden has been named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week. The honor marks Harden’s first time in a Nets uniform and the 27th for a Net all-time.

The 31-year-old superstar averaged 25.3 points, 11.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds, leading Brooklyn to a 3-1 record (did not play in the loss) over the seven-day span. His biggest performance came against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 31 points to go along with 15 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals in 46 minutes of play.

Harden becomes the second Net to win the honor this month, joining teammate Kevin Durant, who won two weeks ago after averaging 34.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 35.4 minutes of play, leading Brooklyn to a 3-0 record in that span. Prior to Durant winning the honor, Spencer Dinwiddie won the honor back on 11/25/19.

In eight games as a Net, Harden has averaged 24.3 points, 11.8 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 39.9 minutes of play. Harden ended the month of January as just the third Net in history to average 20+ points and 10+ assists in any given month, joining Kenny Anderson (Dec. 1993) and Micheal Ray Richardson (Apr. 1985).

Steve Nash was named a nominee for the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month (January), along with J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nash led the Nets to a 10-7 record over the course of January. Doc Rivers of the Philadephia 76ers was awarded the honor after leading his team to a 15-6 record.