Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James has been given the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award for his outstanding play in October and November, the NBA announced on Friday evening.
It’s the 35th time that James has won Eastern Conference Player of the Month (the most in NBA history). And believe it or not, he was honored with November’s Player of the Month last season as well.
Through the months of October and November, James, now in his 15th season of NBA service, produced some of the best statistical figures of his career, averaging 28 points on 58 percent shooting from the field (42.5 percent from beyond the arc), 8.2 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks — all while knocking down 78 percent of his free-throws. According to a report from Cavs.com, no other player in the NBA shot at least 55 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown while averaging at least 20 points.
Among Eastern Conference leaders in October and November, James was tied for first in double-doubles (14) and triple-doubles (2), while also ranking first in field goals made (240), second in points per game (28.0), second in assists per game (8.5), fourth in field goal percentage (.583), eighth in blocks per game (1.18), 14th in rebounds per game (8.2), 15th in steals per game (1.32), and 19th in three-point percentage (.425). His 187 total assists were tops in the East.
The 13-time NBA All-Star was the only player in the NBA to average at least 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists in October and November. He scored at least 20 points 18 times and 30 points or more nine times, which includes a franchise-record tying 57 points at Washington on Nov. 3 (the highest scoring game by any NBA player this season).
James racked up several accolades in the months of October and November. On October 25th, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft became the Cavs’ all-time leader in games played, passing Zydrunas Ilgauskas (771). In a game against the Indiana Pacers on November 1st, James became the sixth player in NBA history to record 400 30-point games (Michael Jordan-562, Wilt Chamberlain-515, Karl Malone-435, Kobe Bryant-431, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-429). And on November 30th, he claimed the 10th position on the NBA’s all-time field goals made list, passing Alex English (10,659 FGM).
For the record, Houston Rockets point guard James Harden won Western Conference Player of the Month honors.
James and the Cavs are currently on a ten-game winning streak (longest active streak in the NBA). They’ll have a chance to improve that mark on Saturday night when the welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to Quicken Loans Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with Fox Sports Ohio and Fox Sports Southeast having live broadcast coverage.