The NBA announced on Monday their players of the week for October 23-29 in both the Eastern and Western Conference. Center DeMarcus Cousins of the new orleans Pelicans was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. In the Eastern Conference, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo took home the weekly honors.
Last week’s winners (the first week of the NBA season) went to Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference and Houston Rockets guard James Harden in the Western Conference.
DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins helped guide the Pelicans to a 2-1 record this past week.
In those impressive three games, the 27-year-old posted per game averages of 36.3 points, 16 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He shot 37-68 (54.4%) from the field, 8-21 (38.1%) on threes, and 27-34 (79.4%) from the foul line.
Now in his eighth season, Cousins spent the first 6.5+ years of his career with the Sacramento Kings. In his first game back in Sacramento as a member of the Pelicans last Wednesday, he scored 41 points, grabbed 23 rebounds, and dished out six assists. He recorded a triple-double on Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as he finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
This is the sixth time that the three-time All-Star has been named Western Conference Player of the Week.
It is the first time he has received the honors since joining New Orleans.
Victor Oladipo
Currently in his first season with Indiana, Oladipo is coming off a week in which the Pacers had a 2-1 record in their three games. The 25-year-old excelled in those three outings, as he finished with per game averages of 28.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks.
He shot the lights out for Indiana this past week going 29-48 (60.4%) from the field, 9-15 (60.0%) from deep, and 19-20 (95.0%) from the charity stripe.
On Sunday night, the fifth-year pro hit a clutch three-pointer with 10.1 seconds left that gave the Pacers a one-point lead over the San Antonio Spurs. They ended up winning the game by three points.
While they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder last Wednesday, Oladipo put on a shooting clinic against the team he played on last season. He shot 11-18 from the field, 5-8 from three-point territory, and 8-8 on free throws, as he finished with 35 points.
This marks the first time in Oladipo’s career that he has been named Player of the Week in either conference.
