The NBA has announced that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month for February, respectively.
Jokic, who was recently named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the 2020-21 season, averaged 22.6 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 10.2 assists while shooting .642 from the field and .500 from beyond the arc in 11 games during the month.
We don’t get tired of this
Joker becomes the first player in franchise history to win POTM in back-to-back months 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XnJARzEz88
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 2, 2023
The Nuggets went 9-2 in games in which Jokic played and are currently atop the Western Conference standings with a record of 44-19. He became the first player in Nuggets history to win the award in back-to-back months and earned the sixth Player of the Month honor of his career, the most in franchise history.
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Jokic also recorded eight triple-doubles in February, including four in his last five games.
Meanwhile, Brunson led the Knicks to a 9-2 record in February, finishing the month with 27.3 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 42.6% from three-point range and 52.9% overall.
Your Eastern Conference Player of the Month 🔥🔥
Congrats, @jalenbrunson1 👏 pic.twitter.com/2ByhLfpcU4
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 2, 2023
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The Knicks are currently on a seven-game winning streak, which includes victories over the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, and Brooklyn Nets. Brunson’s excellent form was instrumental in the Knicks’ strong finish to the month.
Other nominees for the award in the Western Conference included Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks were nominated in the Eastern Conference.