SAN ANTONIO– San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker today was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in January. Parker becomes just the fifth Spurs player in franchise history to win the award and the first since Tim Duncan received the honor in April 2002. Miami’s LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
Parker earns his first Player of the Month award by averaging a team-high 21.9 points (ninth in the NBA), 7.9 assists (seventh), 2.5 rebounds and 1.13 steals in 33.3 minutes as the Spurs finished the month 12-3, tying Denver for the best record in January. The 11-year veteran shot .563 (135-230) from the field for the month, ranking ninth in the league and best overall among all guards. Parker recorded five double-doubles and scored 20-or-more points in 12 of 15 games, including 30-or-more twice.
For the season, Parker is averaging a team-best 20.1 points, 7.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game while shooting .532 (369-693) from the field and a career-best .811 (167-206) from the foul line. He is the only player in the NBA averaging 20-plus points and 7-plus assists while shooting .500-or-better from the field and .800-or-better from the free throw line. Parker currently ranks seventh in the NBA is assists, 11th in scoring and 17th in field goal percentage.
Here’s a closer a look at Parker’s month:
Jan. 2 @ Milwaukee: Had 23 points and 11 assists in a 117-110 road win over the Bucks.
Jan. 19 vs Atlanta: Scored 23 points and dished out 12 assists while committing only one turnover in a 98-93 win at Atlanta.
Jan. 23 vs New Orleans: Collected 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor to go with a season-high 13 assists in a 106-102 win against the Hornets.