 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(December 2024) |
The NBA Player of the Month and NBA Player of the Week are regular awards given by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to recognize outstanding performances by players during the regular season. These honors are presented based on individual and team performances.
The NBA began awarding the Player of the Week distinction during the 1979–80 season and was first awarded to Julius Erving. Initially, only one player in the entire league was awarded each week, but since the 2001-02 season, at least two players are selected, one from the Eastern Conference and another from the Western Conference. On rare occasions, the award has been shared by two players. [1]
Both awards are determined by evaluating players' statistical achievements and their teams' success during the relevant period. For the Player of the Week award, performances in a seven-day span are considered, while the Player of the Month award is based on performances over an entire calendar month. [2]
LeBron James holds the record for the most Player of the Month and Player of the Week awards with 40 and 68 respectively as of January 2025. [3]
| * | Denotes players inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Denotes players who are still active in the NBA |
| Player | Awards | Years Active |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James^ | 68 | From 2005 to 2024 |
| Kobe Bryant* | 33 | From 2000 to 2013 |
| Kevin Durant^ | 32 | From 2010 to 2024 |
| James Harden^ | 26 | From 2013 to 2021 |
| Michael Jordan* | 25 | From 1985 to 2003 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | 25 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Tim Duncan* | 23 | From 1998 to 2015 |
| Allen Iverson* | 23 | From 1997 to 2008 |
| Karl Malone* | 23 | From 1987 to 2002 |
| Stephen Curry^ | 20 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Kevin Garnett* | 20 | From 1999 to 2012 |
| Shaquille O'Neal* | 20 | From 1993 to 2005 |
| Russell Westbrook^ | 20 | From 2010 to 2021 |
| Carmelo Anthony | 19 | From 2004 to 2020 |
| Dwyane Wade* | 19 | From 2004 to 2016 |
| Dwight Howard | 18 | From 2007 to 2012 |
| Magic Johnson* | 18 | From 1980 to 1991 |
| Jason Kidd* | 17 | From 1995 to 2009 |
| Paul Pierce* | 17 | From 2001 to 2012 |
| Damian Lillard^ | 16 | From 2015 to 2023 |
| Dirk Nowitzki* | 16 | From 2002 to 2014 |
| Larry Bird* | 15 | From 1980 to 1988 |
| David Robinson* | 15 | From 1990 to 1998 |
| DeMar DeRozan^ | 15 | From 2016 to 2024 |
| Nikola Jokic^ | 15 | From 2018 to 2024 |
| Joel Embiid^ | 14 | From 2017 to 2024 |
| Chris Paul^ | 14 | From 2006 to 2022 |
| Luka Doncic^ | 14 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Patrick Ewing* | 12 | From 1986 to 1997 |
| Tracy McGrady* | 12 | From 2002 to 2008 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon* | 12 | From 1989 to 1997 |
| Jayson Tatum^ | 12 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Charles Barkley* | 11 | From 1986 to 1997 |
| Vince Carter* | 11 | From 1999 to 2007 |
| Clyde Drexler* | 11 | From 1986 to 1995 |
| Paul George^ | 11 | From 2013 to 2023 |
| Anthony Davis^ | 11 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Devin Booker^ | 10 | From 2021 to 2024 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | 10 | From 2011 to 2018 |
| Player | Awards | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James^ | 40 | From 2005 to 2024 |
| Kobe Bryant* | 17 | From 2001 to 2013 |
| Michael Jordan* | 16 | From 1987 to 1998 |
| Kevin Durant^ | 15 | From 2010 to 2022 |
| Shaquille O'Neal* | 12 | From 1994 to 2005 |
| James Harden^ | 11 | From 2015 to 2021 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | 10 | From 2017 to 2024 |
| Stephen Curry^ | 9 | From 2013 to 2022 |
| Russell Westbrook^ | 9 | From 2015 to 2021 |
| Kevin Garnett* | 9 | From 2000 to 2005 |
| Chris Paul^ | 8 | From 2008 to 2017 |
| Larry Bird* | 7 | From 1980 to 1986 |
| Joel Embiid^ | 7 | From 2019 to 2023 |
| Nikola Jokic^ | 7 | From 2021 to 2024 |
| Karl Malone* | 7 | From 1988 to 2001 |
| Dwight Howard | 6 | From 2006 to 2011 |
| Magic Johnson* | 6 | From 1981 to 1990 |
| Dirk Nowitzki* | 6 | From 2003 to 2009 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon* | 6 | From 1986 to 1995 |
| Dwyane Wade* | 6 | From 2005 to 2011 |
| Luka Doncic^ | 5 | From 2019 to 2024 |
| Jayson Tatum^ | 5 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Carmelo Anthony | 5 | From 2006 to 2014 |
| Patrick Ewing* | 5 | From 1989 to 1995 |
The NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season. Since the 2022–23 season, winners receive the Michael Jordan Trophy, named after the five-time MVP often considered to be the greatest player in NBA history.
James Andrew Jones is an American professional basketball executive and former player. He is both the president of basketball operations and general manager for the Phoenix Suns. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The team has been selected in every season of the league's existence, dating back to its inaugural season in 1946. The All-NBA Team originally had two teams, but since 1988 it is typically composed of three five-man lineups—a first, second, and third team.
The 2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 38th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers were the defending Eastern Conference champions, and were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, where they were swept in four games.
The 2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 37th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. Led by 22-year old forward LeBron James, the Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, finishing second-place in the Central Division, winning their first Eastern Conference championship, and earning the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals. During the season, the Cavaliers had the fourth best team defensive rating in the NBA.
The 2005–06 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 36th season of NBA basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, and a second-place finish in the Central Division, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards in six games in the first round and reached the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference where they lost in seven games to the Detroit Pistons. LeBron James was the team's leading scorer and was named to the All-NBA first team. He was also selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game where he won his first All-Star MVP.
The 2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 39th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA, which easily surpassed the previous franchise best of 57–25 from the 1988–89 and 1991–92 seasons. LeBron James won his first MVP Award and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.
The 2010–11 Miami Heat season was the 23rd season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Heat finished first in the Southeast Division with 58–24 record, and made the NBA playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year as the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed.
The 2011–12 NBA season was the 66th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which began with the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the owners of the 30 NBA teams and the NBA's players. The previous CBA, which was ratified in 2005, expired at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011, resulting in a lockout. With the new deal in place, the regular season was shortened from the normal 82 games per team to 66, because of nearly two months of inactivity. This was the league's first season since 1991–92 without Shaquille O'Neal, who announced his retirement on June 1, 2011, via social media. A 4-time champion, O'Neal played 19 years for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. The season began on Christmas Day 2011, and ended on April 26, 2012. The playoffs started on April 28 and ended on June 21 when the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of their series, 121–106, winning the Finals, 4–1 and to capture the franchise's second NBA title. LeBron James was named both the season MVP and the NBA Finals MVP. The NBA regular season would not begin again in December until the 2020–21 NBA season.
The 2011–12 Miami Heat season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They came into the season as the defending Eastern Conference champions, the second season playing with the "Big Three" of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, and the fourth season under head coach Erik Spoelstra. Prior to the beginning of the season, they looked to bounce back from their disappointing finish to the previous year where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
The 2011–12 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 4th season of the franchise's existence in Oklahoma City as a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 46th season of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA championship, the first NBA championship in franchise history. During the regular season, the Cavaliers had the third best team offensive rating and were tenth in team defensive rating in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Cavaliers had the best team offensive rating and were eighth in team defensive rating in the NBA.
The 2016–17 NBA season was the 71st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 25, 2016, with the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the New York Knicks. The 2017 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 19, 2017, with the West defeating the East 192–182. Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans was named the All Star Game MVP after breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record by scoring 52 points in the All Star Game. The original host of the game, Charlotte's Spectrum Center, was removed as the host on July 21, 2016, due to the league's opposition against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. The regular season ended on April 12, 2017, and the playoffs began on April 15, 2017, and ended on June 12, 2017, with the Golden State Warriors going 16–1 in the playoffs and beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during their third consecutive matchup in the NBA Finals. This was the last season for the NBA to use Adidas jerseys. Starting with the 2017-18 NBA season, the jerseys were from Nike. Additionally, Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, and Dwyane Wade with the Chicago Bulls, after playing their entire careers until then with one team.
Dillon Brooks is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where he was named a consensus second-team All-American and earned conference player of the year honors in the Pac-12 in 2017. Brooks was selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft. He began his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2023.
The 2017–18 NBA season was the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 17, 2017, earlier than previous seasons to reduce the number of "back-to-back" games teams were scheduled to play, with the 2017 Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2018 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 18, 2018, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. The regular season ended on April 11, 2018. The playoffs began on April 14, 2018 and ended on June 8 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers–Warriors rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The rivalry became prominent in the mid-to-late 2010s, with both teams appearing in four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018. In the four Finals, the Warriors won three championships and the Cavaliers won one.
The 2017–18 Houston Rockets season was the 51st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 47th in the Houston area. The Rockets acquired star point guard Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers due to a multitude of trades after the 2017 NBA draft on June 28, 2017, as well as for being the team's first under current owner Tilman Fertitta. The Rockets also broke their franchise record for most wins in a season with their 59th win against the New Orleans Pelicans, eventually totalling 65 wins on the season. With a loss by the Warriors on March 29, the Rockets clinched the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history, which then followed to clinch the best record in this season following a Raptors loss against the Celtics.
The 2019–20 NBA season was the 74th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 22, 2019, and originally was supposed to end on April 15, 2020. The 2020 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, at the United Center in Chicago, and was won by Team LeBron, 157–155. The playoffs were originally scheduled to begin on April 18, and end with the NBA Finals in June.
The 2021–22 NBA season was the 76th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The regular season began on October 19, 2021, and ended on April 10, 2022. For the first time since the 2018–19 season, the NBA returned to its usual October to April regular season schedule after the previous two seasons were shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 NBA All-Star Game was played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on February 20, 2022. The play-in tournament was held on April 12–15, 2022. The 2022 NBA playoffs then began on April 16, and ended on June 16 with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals.
General
Specific