De'Aaron Fox, Julius Randle win NBA Player of the Week awards
The BBN’s takeover of the NBA isn’t slowing down anytime soon. A pair of former Kentucky Wildcats just swept the Player of the Week awards.
Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was named Western Conference Player of the Week while New York Knicks forward Julius Randle was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. Fox averaged 31.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game during Week 6 of the 2023-24 season, leading Sacramento to a 2-1 record. Meanwhile, Randle averaged 24.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game as New York went undefeated at 3-0.
Fox and Randle mark the fourth and fifth times this season that a former Kentucky player has earned this weekly award. It’s actually the second time for Fox, who was tabbed Player of the Week on Nov. 20. Tyrese Maxey (PHI) and Devin Booker (PHX) have also been recognized as Players of the Week through the early stages of this season.
Fox, who is coming off his first-ever All-Star appearance in 2022-23, is playing the best basketball of his career this season. The 25-year-old point guard is averaging career-highs in points (30.3) and rebounds (4.7) while also averaging a career-low in turnovers (2.0). Fox missed five games early in the season due to injury but didn’t skip a beat once he returned. He’s dropped at least 30 points six times already this season, including two 40-plus-point outings. The Kings currently sit 4th in the Western Conference with an overall record of 11-7. Fox was also a nominee for Western Conference Player of the Month.
As for Randle, the 29-year-old power forward has finally hit his groove after a slow, injury-related start to his 10th NBA season. Through 19 games now for the Knicks (12-7; 5th in the Western Conference), Randle is averaging 20.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in nearly 35 minutes per game. The two-time All-Star has scored at least 20 points in four straight games for New York.
Both the Kings and Knicks advanced to the quarterfinal round of the inaugural In-Season Tournament, which runs through Saturday. The Kings will take the stage on Monday night at 10:00 p.m. EST in a win-or-go-home matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Knicks will be in action on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST for an elimination game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Both games will be available on TNT.
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