The duo of Anthony Davis (West) and Mikal Bridges (East) have been named the players of the week in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for Week 24.
NBA Players of the Week for Week 24.
West: Anthony Davis (@Lakers)
East: Mikal Bridges (@BrooklynNets) pic.twitter.com/Z4qoORbiVN— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2023
Davis, who plays as a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, led the 17-time champions to win all three games in a week, which saw them rise to seventh place in the Western Conference standings.
He wins the Player of the Week accolade for the second time this season and the ninth time in his career.
He averaged 38.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.0 blocks in vital wins over the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Houston Rockets, scoring at least 35 points or more in each of the three games.
Ninth time as Player of the Week and second this season — give it up for AD ???? pic.twitter.com/3wXtthCDbj
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 3, 2023
Against the Bulls, he scored 38 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and added two blocks and two steals. In the battle for the seventh spot against the Timberwolves, Davis finished with a 38-point and 17-rebound double-double before scoring 40 points and grabbing nine boards in their huge win against the Rockets, becoming the first Lakers player since Shaquille O’Neal to score 40 or more points while shooting at least 75% from the field.
The eight-time All-Star, who missed about 26 games this season due to injuries, has regained his fitness and form at a crucial time for the Lakers as they continue to push for an automatic playoff spot.
He is currently averaging 26.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 57.1% from the field.
The numbers speak for themselves ????@mikal_bridges is your Eastern Conference Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/iK8rOlUxGv
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 3, 2023
Bridges, on the other hand, also led the Brooklyn Nets to an unblemished week with three wins in as many games. The former Phoenix Suns guard, who was traded to the Nets as part of the deal that saw Kevin Durant move to the other side, finished week 24 with averages of 33 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in victories against the Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Utah Jazz.
He scored 26 points against the Rockets; in the Eastern Conference showdown against the Hawks, Bridges finished with 42 points—his third career 40-point or more game, all coming since joining the Nets—before adding 30 points in the win against the Jazz.
Originally a defensive specialist, Bridges has taken on more offensive duties since moving to Brooklyn, and he’s currently averaging 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, all of which are career highs since he was drafted in 2018.
