James Harden named Player of the Month for February, first Net to do so since 2007

The NBA announced Tuesday that James Harden has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the month of February. The honor is the 11th of Harden’s career and his first as a Net, It was also the first time a Nets player has been so honored since Vince Carter won in April 2007.

Harden won in what was his first full month in a Brooklyn uniform. The Nets acquired him in four-team deal on January 13.

The 6’5” point guard, now part of the NBA’s MVP debate, led Brooklyn to an Eastern Conference-best 9-4 record in February, recording averages of 25.6 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field, 42.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 84.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 8.8 rebounds, an East-leading 10.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 36.8 minutes per game.

He registered 11 double-doubles (tied for fourth in the East) and three triple-doubles (third in the East) and was one of just two players in the conference to average 25.0 points per game and 10.0 assists per game for the month.

The Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from Feb. 15 – 21 helped lead the Nets to an eight-game winning streak in February, good for the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2005-06 season. Brooklyn also posted a perfect 5-0 record on the team’s West Coast trip, spanning from February 13 at Golden State through February 21 at L.A. Clippers, representing the longest undefeated road trip in franchise history.

In 22 games with Brooklyn since being acquired via trade, Harden has registered averages of 25.3 points on 49.0 percent shooting from the field, 41.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 85.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 8.7 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 38.3 minutes per contest.

He’s notched 19 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles, already the second-most recorded by a player in Nets history. Since his Nets debut on Jan. 16 vs. Orlando, Harden ranks first in the league in assists per game, triple-doubles and double-doubles, while leading Brooklyn to the second-best record in the league in that timeframe (16-7). For the full season, Harden has seen action in 30 games with Brooklyn and Houston, averaging 25.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 37.7 minutes per game.

Harden is the fourth Net to earn Player of the Month honors since the award was first presented in the 1979-80 season. He’s also the first player in franchise history to average 25.0 points and 10.0 assists in a month (minimum 10 games played).

Here’s the list of All-Time Nets Player of the Month Honorees:

James Harden – Feb. 2021

Vince Carter – Apr. 2007

Vince Carter – Dec. 2005

Vince Carter – Feb. 2005

Kenyon Martin – Feb. 2004

Jason Kidd – Dec. 2002

Jason Kidd – Nov. 2001

In his first game in March, Harden continued his high level of play, going for 30 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds without a single turnover, the first time that’s been done in 44 years.

• James Harden and Steve Nash take NBA awards for February - Brian Lewis - New York Post