LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished 1-2 in MVP voting and 1-2 in the NBA Finals last season, are the first two Players of the Month.
In November, James led the Heat to an Eastern Conference-best 11-3 (.786) mark, averaging 25.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 53 percent.
James tallied at least 20 points in all 14 games, marking the first time in his career he opened the season with that many consecutive 20-plus-point games.
Durant helped the Thunder to a 13-4 (.765) record. He averaged 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.65 blocks while shooting 51 percent from the field.
Durant recorded his first career triple-double – 25 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists – in a 119-109 win over Golden State on Nov. 18.
Other nominees were Atlanta’s Al Horford; Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez; Charlotte’s Kemba Walker; Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao; Dallas’ O.J. Mayo; Houston’s James Harden; the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul; Memphis’ Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, and Zach Randolph; New York’s Carmelo Anthony; Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook; Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday; and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan.