ATLANTA’S JOE JOHNSON NAMED NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE MONTH PRESENTED BY KIA

New York, NY (Apr. 1, 2008) -- The Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson and the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia, respectively, for games played in March.

Johnson, who has led the Hawks into playoff contention for the first time since the 1998-99 season, averaging 24.9 points and 7.0 assists in 42.2 minutes in March. Johnson scored 20-or-more points 12 times, including eight straight with 20-plus, and 30-or-more points three times.

Paul led the Hornets to an 11-4 mark, averaging 24.0 points, 13.3 assists and 2.67 steals. Paul collected at least 10 assists in 12 of the Hornets’ 15 games and tallied 199 assists in March. Over the last 10 seasons, Steve Nash is the only player to record 200 assists in one month.

The Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia are part of a new series of on-court performance awards called “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia.” The awards, which are part of a multi-year marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, include four of the NBA’s most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, and Most Improved Player. As part of its support of the Performance Awards, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV to the charity of choice of each of the four year-end award winners in 2008. For more information on the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia” visit www.NBA.com/performanceawards.

Here is a closer look at the month for Johnson:

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
March 4 vs. Golden State: Recorded 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 135-118 loss to the Warriors.
March 8 vs. Miami: Scored 39 points to go along with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in a 97-94 win over the Heat.
March 22 vs. Orlando: Tallied 34 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in a 98-90 win over the Magic.
March 30 vs. New York: Scored 25 points to go along with 13 assists and two steals in a 114-109 victory over the Knicks.

Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Charlotte’s Jason Richardson, Cleveland’s LeBron James, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups, Houston’s Tracy McGrady, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, Phoenix’s Amaré Stoudemire and Utah’s Deron Williams.