The NBA has announced that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has been named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in October/November.
Jokić wins the award for the seventh time in his career, the most in franchise history.
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The two-time MVP averaged 29.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists while shooting .571 from the field and .316 from three-point range in 18 games during October and November. He helped lead the Nuggets to a record of 12-6 in games in which he played, and they are currently third in the Western Conference.
Jokić, 28, recorded seven triple-doubles in the month span, while the rest of the NBA combined for eight total. He had four straight games of 30+ points to end November, making it the second time in the month he recorded a four-game stretch scoring 30 or more points (11/6 – 11/14). He also became the first player since Elgin Baylor in 1967 to start a season with 12 straight games of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds.
Tatum is the best player on the best team in the NBA through the first month, averaging 27.7 points per game.
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It’s too early to have a serious NBA MVP conversation — not that it ever stopped anyone — but if one did, the people who just won Player of the Month for November would be an excellent place to start.
Joker led the NBA in total rebounds, double-doubles, points scored, assists, and total assists for the months of October and November. In his last four games, he has also recorded two triple-doubles of 30 points or more without committing any turnovers; no other NBA player has accomplished that in multiple games in the previous 40 years. He has only had eight turnovers and 54 assists in the four games.
With an average of career-highs of 29.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists in 34.1 minutes per game, the native of Sobor, Serbia leads the NBA in overall points, rebounds, assists, and triple-doubles.