For the first time in his career, Suns forward Shawn Marion was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for February.

The three-time NBA All-Star (2003, 2005, 2006) lifted the Suns to a 9-1 record (.900) last month as the team posted its second-highest winning percentage ever in the month of February (11-1, .917 in 1989-90). Marion averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in 10 games, including nine double-doubles.

Marion, who is in his seventh NBA season with Phoenix, is the first Suns player since April 2005 to win the honor (Amaré Stoudemire). In team history, Marion becomes only the sixth player (and eighth time overall) to win the award (Kevin Johnson-twice, Charles Barkley-twice, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Stoudemire).

The 27-year-old had several standout performances during the month including a recently completed three-game stretch where he became the first NBA player since former Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal (Dec. 5-11, 2001) and only the second player in franchise history (Charles Barkley) to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in three consecutive games. In those last three victories, Marion exploded for a career-high 44 points and 15 rebounds vs. Boston on Feb. 22, notched the club’s first 30-point, 20-rebound game since Barkley (34 and 24 on March 24, 1995) with 31 points and a career-high and NBA season-high 24 rebounds vs. Charlotte on Feb. 25 and closed the month with 30 points and 18 rebounds at Houston on Feb. 27.

The Matrix is one of only three NBA players to average at least 20 points (team-high 21.9 points, 16th in NBA) and 10 rebounds (career-high 12.3 rebounds, tied for 2nd) in 2005-06, joining Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand. The 6-7, 228-pound forward owns the franchise’s highest rebounding average since Neal Walk averaged 12.4 boards in 1972-73. Marion also ranks first in double-doubles (43), fourth in steals (2.00), 14th in blocks (career-high 1.87), fourth in minutes (41.3) and 13th in field goal percentage (career-high .517).

The Suns, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, including an NBA-best seven in a row, host the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. tonight at the US Airways Center. The game will be televised locally on FSN Arizona.