After many began to say LeBron James’ age will catch up to him, James decided that age is just a number this season. James helped lead the Cavaliers to a 3-0 start by averaging 21 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 10 assists throughout his first three games of the 2016-2017 season, which netted him the first Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for his play from Oct. 25-Oct. 30.
The award goes to a player in each conference that was the best all-around player and helped his team win. These awards also factor into the Conference Player of the Month Awards, as well as, eventually, in MVP voting. In the West, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans averaged 47 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists, posing a challenge to Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 3-0 week by the Thunder and almost triple double average that Westbrook put up put him firmly ahead of the competition this week.
Throughout his career, LeBron has 54 Eastern Conference Player of the Week Awards for his career and 32 Eastern Conference Player of the Month Awards, both more than any other player in NBA history. Russell Westbrook won the Western Conference equivalent this week with his own near-triple double average.
LeBron James’ three games from this week:
Oct. 25 vs. NYK: 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists in 117-88 win.
Oct. 28 @ TOR: 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in 94-91 win.
Oct. 29 vs. ORL: 23 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in a 105-99 win.
Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving also received nominations after averaging 25/4/4 throughout the week, almost five points higher than his career average. Irving capped off this performance with a 29 point scoring burst on opening night, the highest of any player on the court that night. Kevin Love was, as always, ignored in the nominations, but put up All-Star Numbers, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds a night.
