Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton named NBA Players of the Week

Two of the NBA’s best guards have earned Player of the Week honors for the week of Dec. 25-31, with Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the Western Conference award and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers claiming the award in the East.

It’s the first time that either player has been named Player of the Week this season. Gilgeous-Alexander has now earned the honor four times in his career; Haliburton won it once last season.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the streaking Thunder to a 4-0 week, averaging 33.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game with a shooting line of .623/.385/.943. He had his fifth 40-point game of the season on Friday in a blowout victory in Denver.

Haliburton’s Pacers also had an undefeated week, with victories over Houston, Chicago, and New York. The star point guard had back-to-back 20-point, 20-assist performances against the Bulls and Knicks and averaged 25.3 PPG and 17.7 APG across Indiana’s three wins, with a shooting line of .509/.417/.714.

In addition to several of the usual suspects — Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis — Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson was among the nominees in the Western Conference for the first time in his young career.

Over in the East, Haliburton’s teammate Myles Turner, as well as Jarrett Allen, Cade Cunningham, Jayson Tatum, Julius Randle, and Andre Drummond were the other nominees.