Nikola Jockic of the Denver Nuggets and Joel Embidof the Philadelphia 76ers, were chosen by the NBA as january players of the month in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively. In the golden age of the triple, the “small” quintets and the fast pace of the game, two centers dominated the NBA last month.
On the one hand, Nikola Jokic averaged 26.6 points, 13.3 rebounds and 9 assists in the 16 games played by the Nuggets in January with a balance of 11 wins and 5 losses. The great Serbian center, who was named MVP last regular season, put the Nuggets on his back so that the Denver team appears, starting Wednesday, in sixth position in the West (28-22).
Another extraordinary center like Joel Embiid was the most outstanding player in the East in January, an award that the Cameroonian had already received in December. The Sixers posted 12 wins and lost just 3 games in January at the hands of a spectacular Embiid who had 34 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists on average per match. One of his most outstanding performances was on January 19 when he had 50 points and 14 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play in the Sixers’ victory against the Orlando Magic. Those from Philadelphia now occupy the second position in the East (31-19).
The NBA detailed that they were also considered for the January player awards Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies). Dejounte Murray (San Antonio Spurs), Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors), Anfernee Simons (Portland Trail Blazers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) were also among the candidates. .
In another sense, Josh Giddy (Oklahoma City Thunder) was voted best rookie in the West for the third straight month while Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons) was the winner in the East. By last, Monty-Williams (Phoenix Suns, leaders in the West with 41-9) and J. B. Bickerstaff (Cleveland Cavaliers, fourth in the East at 31-20) were named coaches of the month.