Posted: Dec. 1, 2004
After leading the Suns to the league's best record in the opening month of the season, Suns guard Steve Nash was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for November today.
The Suns' new floor general averaged 16.0 points and an NBA-best 11.4 assists as Phoenix compiled an NBA-best 12-2 record last month and the franchise's best start since 1980-81 (14-2). Nash distributed 12 or more assists eight times and no other player in the league averaged double figures in assists. In addition, he shot 55.8 percent from the field (86-154, 4th in the NBA), including 10 games where he shot 50 percent or better.
Nash is the first Suns player since April 1999 to win the honor (Jason Kidd). In team history, Nash becomes only the fourth player (and sixth time overall) to win the award (Kevin Johnson-twice, Charles Barkley-twice, Kidd). This is the second player of the month award for Nash, who was the NBA's Co-Player of the Month in November 2002 along with Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki after Dallas' 14-0 start.
Nash, who was originally drafted by the Suns in 1996 and rejoined the organization as a free agent on July 14, 2004, had several standout performances during the month including 17 points and 18 assists in his first meeting against his former club Dallas, a 107-101 victory, on Nov. 16, 22 points and 18 assists in a 122-111 win at the Clippers on Nov. 21, and 20 points and 14 assists in a 115-102 victory at Utah on Nov. 30.
This is the third NBA honor given to the Suns in the last two weeks. Suns forward Shawn Marion was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 22-28 and forward/center Amar