LeBron James crowned Eastern Conference Player of the Week
The two-time reigning MVP and spearhead of an explosive Miami heat offence, LeBron James, has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for his swashbuckling performances in the week spanning from 24-30 January. The sizzling forward prevailed
over the likes of Charlotte's Stephen Jackson and Orlando's Dwight Howard.
With this award the dazzling small forward has once again shaken the annals of NBA history. This is the 29th time James has earned the Player of the Week accolade in his career; the most times any player in the history of the game has done so.
The Miami Heat forward has lit up the courts this season with a brilliant average of 26.1 points, 7.3 assists and 7.2 rebounds, and has been simply unstoppable this month. Those performances have earned him his second player of the week award in January.
In addition to that, LeBron has now scored at least 20 points in 12 consecutive games, tying for the sixth best streak in franchise history. In this season, the dazzling forward leads Miami in scoring, assists and steals.
In the week under the spotlight, James marshalled the Heat to a 2-1 outcome by pounding a league second best 33.3 points, shooting 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field, 36 percent (4-of-11) from long-range and 73 percent (24-of-33) from the charity stripe.
The self proclaimed King did not stop there. He also canned a league second best 2.33 steals and combined it with 9.0 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 2.33 blocks.
James, who had to play without the other two pivots of Miami’s Big Three in the first two games of the week, started with a 24-point, 11-boards double-double at Madison Square Garden. He also notched up a team-high five assists, coupled with game-highs of
two steals and as many blocks. His endeavours however could not propel the Heat to a win against the New York Knicks.
James entered the second game of the week against the Detroit Pistons and had a point to prove. He did that in style by single-handedly guiding the Heat to a nerve-wrecking 88-87 victory. On the second night of a back-to-back set, James bludgeoned a game-high
39 points complemented with a team-high nine assists, eight rebounds, and two blocks as Miami just managed to squeak past the Pistons.
His biggest challenge however, came against the powerful Oklahoma City Thunder in the last match of the week. Pitched up against the phenomenal Kevin Durant in the clash of the titans, James not only spearheaded the offence with 23 points, but was also instrumental
in hounding Durant and reducing him to a 7-of-20 performance from the field. James also dished out 13 assists and a game-high four steals, as he led his team to a 108-103 win in one of the most gripping contests of the season.
The honour also marks the 30th time in franchise history a Heat player has been named the Player of the Week.
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