Arenas Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Wizards guard wins award for third time this season, seventh in career
January 8, 2007
The NBA announced today that Wizards Guard Gilbert Arenas was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 1st through Sunday, January 7th, 2007.

This marks the third time this season and the seventh time in his career that Arenas has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Arenas, the Eastern Conference Player of the Month in December, has now won Player of the Week honors in three of the last five weeks.

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“This was an exciting week for our team,” said Arenas. “We had the big win against Milwaukee, and came from behind against the Clippers at home for two important wins. My teammates had a great week, especially Caron and Antawn, so I will certainly share this award with them.”

Arenas' long three gave the Wizards a win over the Bucks at the buzzer last Wednesday. VIDEO
Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images
“Gilbert continued his outstanding play and had another terrific week,” said Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld. “Overall, we have really come together as a team and have put together an impressive record over the past month.”

In a 2-1 week for the Washington Wizards, Arenas averaged 33.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. He scored at least 30 points in all three games last week, including a 32-point effort against Milwaukee on January 3rd in which he gave the Wizards the win with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from 32-feet away to provide the difference in the 108-105 victory.

Additionally, in a week in which he connected on 47.1 percent of his field goal attempts and 84.4 percent of his free throw tries, Arenas established new season-high marks with 11 rebounds against the Bucks on Wednesday and 12 assists against the Clippers on Friday. Also, by adding three more games to his total of 18 games this season with at least 30 points, Arenas and the Wizards improved to 16-2 on the season when he scores 30+.

Arenas’ six previous career Player of the Week honors came on December 5, 2004, November 13, 2005, February 12, 2006, February 19, 2006, December 11, 2006 and December 18, 2006.