Players of the Month: LeBron James, Chris Paul

NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Oct. 28) through November.

James has led the Cavaliers to a 14-3 record while averaging 27.8 points on .491 shooting to go along with 7.2 rebounds and a team-high 6.4 assists. James became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to score 40-plus points at least three times in his team's first eight games. James became the youngest player in NBA history (23 years, 324 days) to score 11,000 points when he hit a jump shot late in the first quarter against the Nets Nov. 18.

Paul paced the league in assists (11.6 apg) and steals (2.80 spg), while averaging a team-high 20.3 points, as the Hornets went 9-6. Paul recorded two triple-doubles and 10 double-doubles for the month. Paul has recorded a steal in 97 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league. Paul is eight games away from Alvin Robertson's record 105 games with a swipe.

Here is a closer look at the month for James and Paul:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Nov. 5 vs. Chicago: Netted 41 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in a 107-93 win.
Nov. 8 @ Chicago: Recorded 41 points and 13 rebounds in a 106-97 win over the Bulls.
Nov. 11 vs. Milwaukee: Tallied 41 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 99-93 win over the Bucks.

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Nov. 12 vs. LA Lakers: Recorded 30 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists and four steals in a 93-86 loss.
Nov. 22 vs. Oklahoma City: Netted 29 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists in a 109-97 win over the Thunder.
Nov. 24 vs. LA Clippers: Tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and 17 assists in a 99-87 win.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors were Houston's Yao Ming, Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, New Jersey's Devin Harris, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Portland's Brandon Roy and Toronto's Chris Bosh.

The Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors are part of a series of on-court performance awards called "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors." The series, currently in its second season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes four of the league's most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, and Most Improved Player. For more information on the "The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors" visit www.NBA.com/performanceawards.