Chris Bosh is starting for the first time as an All Star this month. (NBAE/Getty Images)

(February 1, 2007) -- The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday that forward Chris Bosh was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the month of January. Bosh is the first Raptors player to receive the honour. He had twice previously been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, 2006 and Jan. 3-9, 2005).

Bosh led the Raptors to a 10-5 record, averaging 25.4 points (fifth in the Eastern Conference) on .547 shooting from the field and .455 from three-point range, 9.1 rebounds and 1.60 blocked shots. He led the team in scoring on 13 occasions.

Bosh returned to the lineup January 3 after missing 12 games in December with a knee injury to score 26 points on 11-of-22 from the field in a 100-98 loss to Phoenix. He registered a season-high 35 points, going 11-of-19 from the floor in a 90-88 win January 24 versus New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets. He finished the month with 34 points, going 15-of-19 from the field and eight rebounds in a 119-109 win over Washington on January 31.

Bosh lead the team in rebounding 12 times in January with highs of 15 in a 115-110 win January 7 versus Washington and a 97-96 loss January 14 versus Dallas. He recorded five double-doubles during the month and ranks 14th in the NBA with 20 this season.

A product of Georgia Tech in his fourth season, Bosh leads the team in scoring (22.6), rebounding (9.1) and minutes (37.0). Last week he was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star squad. This will be his second appearance at All-Star Weekend, having been named as a reserve to the Eastern Conference team in 2006.