Dec. 29, 2003 — Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Dec. 22-28, the third weekly honor of his career.

Cassell averaged 24.7 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.33 steals in 36.7 minutes per game as the Wolves recorded a 2-1 mark on a coast-to-coast three-game road trip, defeating the New York Knicks (98-92) and the Seattle SuperSonics (104-86) and falling to the Portland Trail Blazers (101-92) while improving their league-best road record to 12-5. The Wolves have secured the best December in club history at 10-2 (with one game remaining).

The 10-year NBA veteran posted a game- and season-high 31 points in the Dec. 23 win at New York, the Wolves' franchise-record-tying sixth straight road victory. It marked his first 30+ game with Minnesota, in addition to the eighth time he's led the team in scoring this season. Cassell registered 23 points and a game-high nine assists at Portland on Dec. 26 and posted 20 points and a game-high eight assists at Seattle the following night. He totaled 24 points in the fourth quarters on the trip, shooting 60.0% (9-for-15) from the floor, and led Minnesota in assists in all three games.

Cassell, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks along with Ervin Johnson on June 27, has led the Wolves in assists on 22 occasions this season, registering seven point/assist double-doubles. The Wolves have won nine of the 10 games this month in which he's scored 20+ points.

This season, Cassell ranks 16th in the NBA in scoring (20.2 ppg), fifth in assists (7.4), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.22-to-1), 11th in field goal percentage (.505), 17th in free throw percentage (.849) and 27th in three-point field goal percentage (.394).

The honor marks the third time that a Minnesota player has earned the accolade this season, as Kevin Garnett was named Player of the Week on Nov. 24 and Dec. 22. Additionally, it marked the first time in franchise history that Wolves players have won the award in back-to-back weeks. Cassell also earned the honor on Nov. 8, 1999 with Milwaukee and on April 13, 1998 while with New Jersey.

Other nominees for West Player of the Week were Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Portland's Zach Randolph, San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Garnett. New Jersey's Jason Kidd was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.