ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks’ starting five – DeMarre Carroll, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague – have been named co-Kia Eastern Conference Players of the Month for January after the club compiled the first 17-0 record in a calendar month in league history, it was announced today by the NBA. Mike Budenholzer was named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month on Monday for the second straight month.
This is the first time in league history five teammates have shared the Monthly award, and is the only the second time ever (Dallas’ Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash shared the award in October/November 2002) that multiple players from one team have been honored.
“We appreciate the recognition of our starters’ play during this past month. It is reflective of all the work our entire team and organization has put in,” Budenholzer said. “We place a strong emphasis on having the right approach every day and making daily improvement. Collectively, we know that we have a lot more work to do this season and look forward to continue growing as a team.”
Carroll started in 14 games in January, averaging 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.9 minutes (.525 FG%, .417 3FG%).
Horford, a two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week this season (12/22 and 1/19) averaged 17.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.3 apg and 1.4 bpg in 31.8 minutes for the month (.588 FG%, .738 FT%) in 16 starts. On 1/13 at Philadelphia, he recorded his first career triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high tying 10 assists in 29 minutes, 8-10 FGs, 5-6 FTs).
Korver played and started 16 games in January, averaging 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 33.0 minutes (.563 FG%, .567 3FG%, .850 FT%). He led the East in 3FG%, 3FGM (55), while ranking eighth in FG%.
Millsap appeared in 16 games (all starts) for the month, putting in team-highs of 18.3 points and 8.0 rebounds to go along with 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.0 minutes (.487 FG%, .408 3FG%, .875 FT%).
Teague compiled 16.6 ppg, a team-high 8.5 apg, 2.6 rpg and 1.8 spg in 31.9 mpg (.434 FG%, .871 FT%) in 16 starts. He was second in the East in apg, tied for seventh in spg and 11th in FTM (54). He was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week on 1/5.
Horford, Millsap and Teague will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In January, the Hawks led the NBA in 3FG% (.415) and assists (459), while leading the East in point differential (11.9), ppg (105.6), 3FGM (184), FG% (.481), FGM (659), apg (27.0), A/TO ratio (2.00) and stl/TO ratio (0.68). Atlanta went 9-0 at home and 8-0 on the road for the month, including a 7-0 mark against the West (3-0 on the road).
The Hawks also tied a franchise record by making 10-or-more 3FGs in eight consecutive contests (1/5-1/17) and did it 14 times during the month.