After helping the Suns to three wins last week, forward Markieff Morris was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 4-10, the NBA announced today.
This is the first NBA Player of the Week honor of Morris’ career, and is the first by a Suns player since Amar’e Stoudemire won the award on Nov. 10, 2008.
Morris helped the Suns to a 3-1 week, which included wins over the Denver Nuggets and a home-and-away sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans. The third-year forward tied for seventh in the Western Conference in scoring (22.8 ppg), 14th in the Conference in rebounding (8.0 rpg), eighth in the Conference in steals (2.0 spg) and led the league in field goal percentage (.698). Morris closed the week with three straight outings in which he connected on .750 or better from the field (11-of-13, .846 on Nov. 6; 10-of-13, .769 on Nov. 8; 9-of-12, .750 on Nov. 10). At 5-2, the Suns are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season.
Here is a recap of the week for Morris:
Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns
Nov. 5 @ New Orleans: Had 17 points, five boards and four assists in a 104-98 win over the Pelicans.
Nov. 6 @ San Antonio: Tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds during a 99-96 loss to the Spurs.
Nov. 8 vs. Denver: Notched his second consecutive double-double, a 28-point (career-high), 10-rebound effort, during a 114-103 win over the Nuggets.
Nov. 10 vs. New Orleans: Recorded 23 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals during the Suns’ 101-94 win over the Pelicans.
The Indiana Pacers’ Paul George was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague, Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez, Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson, Memphis’ Mike Conley, Miami’s LeBron James, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Washington’s Bradley Beal.
The Phoenix Suns return to action on Wednesday night in Portland to face the Trail Blazers at 8:00 p.m. (Phoenix time) on FOX Sports Arizona. The Suns return home on Friday evening to host the Brooklyn Nets at 7:00 p.m. at US Airways Center.