CLEVELAND – The NBA announced today that Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of Week for games played Monday, January 19, through Sunday, January 25. This marks the third time this season James has earned Player of the Week accolades (Nov. 10-16 and Nov. 24-30), as well as the 48th time in his career, the most in NBA history. It also marks the 46th time in franchise history a player has earned Player of the Week honors and the 29th time James has earned the honor as a member of the Cavaliers.
James led Cleveland to a perfect 4-0 record this past week, averaging 27.8 points on .506 shooting from the field, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.3 steals in 34.3 minutes per game. The Cavs were one of only four NBA teams to post an undefeated record, winning by an average margin of 19.3 points. Among Eastern Conference players, James ranked first in total points (111), first in field goals made (40), first in free throws made (27), second in points per game (27.8), tied for fifth in assists per game (6.8) and sixth in steals per game (2.3).
The 2015 NBA All-Star starter was the only player to average at least 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists this past week. His plus/minus was +67, which ranked second in the Eastern Conference, behind only teammate Tristan Thompson (+69). James helped Cleveland win each contest during a four-game homestand by double figures. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other time that Cleveland won by at least 10 points in each game of a homestand of four-or-more games was in the 1988-89 season, when the Cavaliers recorded double-digit margins of victory in six consecutive wins at home.
James started the week off by tallying a game-high 26 points on 12-23 (.522) shooting from the field, five rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes during a 108-94 win over the Central Division-leading Chicago Bulls on MLK Day. During Cleveland’s 106-92 victory over Utah on Jan. 21, he finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-16 (.500) shooting from the field, a game-high nine assists, seven rebounds and a season-high tying four steals in 36 minutes. He followed that up by leading the Cavaliers to its largest margin of victory at Quicken Loans Arena, a 39-point win over Charlotte (129-90), who had won eight of their previous nine games. James posted game highs of 25 points, nine assists and four steals to go along with six boards in 27 minutes, while also playing in his 583rd game as Cavalier to surpass Mark Price (582) for sixth place in franchise history in games played. He capped off the week with a game-high 34 points (12 in the fourth quarter), seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in 39 minutes of a 108-98 win over Oklahoma City on Jan. 25.
On the season, James has appeared in 36 games (all starts) with averages of 26.2 points on .493 shooting from the field, 5.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 37.3 minutes per game. The 6-8 forward ranks second in the NBA in points per game and eighth in assists per game. He is also the only player in the league with a field goal percentage of at least .490 while holding averages of at least 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists this season.
Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.