NBA Players and Coaches Honored for October and November Performances

Victor Wembanyama and Dyson Daniels have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Defensive Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November, becoming the first recipients of the new award.

Wembanyama led the league with 3.56 bpg and 57 total blocks while averaging 1.31 spg in October and November. He also accounted for 45.9% of the Spurs’ total blocks.

Daniels recorded the most steals and blocks (75 total, combined) in the Eastern Conference and second-most in the NBA, trailing only Wembanyama.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been named the Kia NBA Players of the Month for games played in October and November.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 29.8 points on 50.3% shooting, 6.6 apg, 5.3 rpg, 1.68 spg and 1.11 bpg in 34.5 minutes per game. He recently joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to average at least 29.0 points on 50% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.50 steals and 1.00 blocks through the first 20 games of a season.

Tatum led the Celtics to a 16-3 record, highlighted by his game-winning shot in overtime against Toronto to secure a 126-123 victory on Nov. 16.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells have been named the Kia NBA Rookies of the Month for games played in October and November.

Mccain is the first 76ers player since Ben Simmons in March 2018 to capture Rookie of the Month honors. In 18 appearances in October and November, McCain’s 16 ppg led all rookies.

Wells ranked No. 2 in scoring (12.2 points per game) and averaged 3.3 rpg and 1.9 apg while shooting 45.4% overall and 39.4% on 3-pointers.

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson have been named the NBA Coaches of the Month for games in October and November.

Udoka led the Rockets to a 14-6 record. Houston is currently No. 2 in the Western Conference standings. That is Houston’s best start to a season since going 17-4 in 2017-18.

Atkinson earns his first Coach of the Month honor of his career. Atkinson led the Cavs to a franchise-best 15-0 start from Oct. 23 to Nov. 17, breaking the previous mark to start a season of 8-0 set in 1976-77.