Eastern Conference: Domantas Sabonis
- Team: Indiana Pacers
- Stats: 24.3 points per game/11 rebounds per game/7 assists per game
- Team record during this stretch: 3-0 (Tied for first in the Eastern Conference)
Sabonis was an All-Star a season ago, but this is his first time being named player of the week in his young career. Not only did Sabonis help lead the Pacers to a 3-0 start (their best start since the 2013-14 season), but he also led the entire team in points, rebounds, and assists.
Not impressed yet? Okay, well he also set a new career high for himself in points (32) in the Pacers home victory on Wednesday night over the Knicks. The low post virtuoso is just getting started this season, and is one of very few players who can dismantle opposing bigs on the block by just using his footwork alone.
Sabonis is playing at an All-Star level yet again, and is really becoming a dual-threat of an offensive weapon. Watching a Pacers game is enough evidence to see how good he is underneath the hoop, but Domontas is also shooting just under 45% from three-point land as well.
Fan of the Pacers or not, you can bank on Sabonis being the team’s stand out player all season long and one of the best bigs in the east.
Western Conference: Brandon Ingram
- Team: New Orleans Pelicans
- Stats: 26.7 points per game/7.3 rebounds per game/6.7 assists per game/1 steal per game
- Team record during this stretch: 2-1 (Tied for first in the Western Conference)
The reigning Most Improved Player of the Year, Brandon Imgram is picking up right where he left off from a season ago. He became the first player in Pelican’s history to put up at least 80 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists through the team’s first three games of the regular season. In the first week of play Ingram is one of four players to be averaging at least 26 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
When Ingram first entered the league he drew comparisons of the elite Kevin Durant. He was seen as disappointing for a season or two, but now has begun to blossom during his time in New Orleans. There is no doubt he is continuing to prove the haters wrong, and right now he is the best player on a Pelicans team, who have a loaded young core and a scary anchor in Steven Adams.
The most intriguing part about Ingram’s serge in this young season is that he hasn’t even reached his true potential yet. And although he still has a ways to go before actually playing on the same level as KD, you can certainly see flashes of it through the first three games. Most notably some of the moves he pulled out on Christmas Day.
DONOVAN’S HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Eastern Conference: Andre Drummond
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Stats: 20.3 points per game/14.7 rebounds per game/4 assists per game.
- Team record during this stretch: 3-0 (Tied for first in Eastern Conference)
Western Conference: Buddy Hield
- Team: Sacramento Kings
- Stats: 17.7 points per game/2.7 rebounds per game/2 assists per game/ 1 game winner
- Team Record during this stretch: 2-1 (Tied for first in the Western Conference/no one expected this from the Kings)