The NBA Player of the Week award is given out weekly during the regular season by the league and honors one player from each conference (one player from East, one from West) for their recent great play. InsideHoops.com posts all the winners for the entire season on this page.

NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: DEC. 27, 2010

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors’ Monta Ellis today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 20, through Sunday, Dec. 26.

James led the Heat to a 2-1 week, which included road wins over the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. James averaged 27.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.33 steals for the surging Heat, which has won 14 of its last 15 games. On Christmas Day, James recorded a triple-double in Miami’s 96-80 victory over the Lakers, posting 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Ellis’ 39.7 ppg led the league for the week and helped Golden State to a 2-1 mark, which included wins over the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers. Ellis topped 36 points in all three outings, including a sparkling 44-point performance on 15-of-20 shooting from the field in the Warriors’ lone loss of the week, a 121-112 setback vs. Houston. Ellis also chipped in with 7.0 assists and 3.0 steals on the week.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Chicago’s Carlos Boozer, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, New York’s Amar’e Stoudemire and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: DEC. 13, 2010

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 12.

Wade led the Heat to a 4-0 week, averaging 30.8 points on .584 shooting from the field, 8.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steal. On Dec 11, Wade scored 36 points to go along with six assists, six rebounds, helping Miami to its eighth straight victory, a 104-83 win over Sacramento. On Dec. 6 at Milwaukee, Wade posted a double-double with a game-high 25 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

Nowitzki averaged 25.7 points on .700 shooting from the field and 9.0 rebounds, leading Dallas to a 3-0 week, extending the current Maverick winning streak to 12 games. In consecutive games – Dec. 9 vs. New Jersey, Dec.11 vs. Utah Jazz – Nowitzki led the Mavericks in scoring and rebounds. In those two games Nowitzki shot .800 (8-10) and .833 (10-12) from the field, respectively.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Josh Smith, Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Houston’s Kevin Martin, Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Memphis’ Zach Randolph, New York’s Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton ,Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, and Portland’s Wesley Matthews.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: DEC. 6, 2010

The New York Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 5.

Stoudemire led the Knicks to a 3-0 week, averaging 33.3 points on .588 shooting from the field and 11.7 rebounds. He scored 30 or more points in all three games and recorded two point/rebound double-doubles. His 31 points and season-high 16 rebounds at Toronto on Sunday helped New York extend its winning streak on the road to seven games.

Westbrook averaged 25.5 points, 10.0 assists 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals to help Oklahoma City to a 3-1 record on the week. In a triple-overtime win at New Jersey on Wednesday, Westbrook set a franchise record, scoring all of his team’s 12 points in the final overtime and 21 points combined the three overtimes. His 15-rebound performance was a career high. Westbrook registered double-doubles in all three Thunder wins.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Al Horford, Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Charlotte’s Boris Diaw, Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Orlando’s Vince Carter, Phoenix’s Steve Nash, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NOV. 29, 2010

The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 28.

With double-doubles in all four games, Howard led Orlando to a 3-1 record. Howard averaged 26.3 points on .632 shooting and 14.5 rebounds. He hit the game-winning shot at Washington on Saturday with four seconds left to propel Orlando to its third consecutive win. Howard had 32 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the victory.

Nowitzki averaged 31.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists on the week. He shot .573 from the field and .533 from behind the arc. His 42-point, 12-rebound night led Dallas past Detroit on Tuesday. The Mavericks went on to win four games in five nights.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Shaquille O’Neal, Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin, Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Indiana’s Danny Granger, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, New York’s Raymond Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili, and Utah’s Deron Williams.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NOV. 22, 2010

The New York Knicks’ Amar`e Stoudemire and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively for games played Monday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 21.

Stoudemire averaged 29.0 points on .608 shooting from the field, 9.5 rebounds and compiled eight blocks, leading the Knicks to a 3-1 week on a four-game west coast road trip. The Knicks’ captain posted a point/rebound double-double in each of New York’s three wins during the week and scored a season-high 39 points while adding 11 boards in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

Westbrook led the Thunder to a 4-0 week, averaging 23.0 points, 7.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds. With 7.3 seconds remaining, Westbrook connected on two free-throws at Milwaukee to help secure the team’s fourth consecutive victory. With Kevin Durant out of the lineup, Westbrook stepped up and scored 31 points at Boston to help the Thunder defeat the Celtics by a score of 89-84 on Friday night.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani, Miami’s Chris Bosh and LeBron James, New York’s Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, Atlanta’s Al Horford and Josh Smith, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Charlotte’s Stephen Jackson, San Antonio’s Tony Parker, New Orleans’ Chris Paul and David West and Chicago’s Derrick Rose.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NOV. 15, 2010

The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 14.

Rose led the Bulls to a 3-0 week, averaging 21.3 points on .431 shooting from the field. He also compiled 27 assists for the week, 13 of which came in a win over Golden State when Rose recorded a double-double, his third of the season.

Williams led the Jazz to a perfect 4-0 road trip, averaging 23 points, on .456 shooting from the field and .333 from distance, to go along with 11.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds. The Jazz was able to overcome double-digit second half deficits in all four games. On back-to-back nights at Miami and Orlando, Williams put up 11 points and 17 points in each fourth quarter to help lead the Jazz to comeback wins.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, Chicago’s Joakim Noah, Indiana’s Mike Dunleavy, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Phoenix’s Jason Richardson, San Antonio’s Tony Parker, and Utah’s Paul Millsap.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NOV. 8, 2010

The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 7.

Howard’s Magic finished the week 3-0, with victories over Minnesota, New Jersey, and Charlotte. Howard averaged 23.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, and tallied 11 blocks on the week. On Tuesday versus the Timberwolves, Howard set a Magic franchise record for most blocked shots in a quarter with six, breaking his previous record of five in a quarter.

Paul led the Hornets to a 3-0 week, averaging 17.3 points on .514 shooting from the field, 11 assists and 3.7 steals. Paul’s double-double on Friday helped New Orleans defeat the Miami Heat 96-93. In the win, Paul compiled 13 points, 19 assists, and five steals. Paul’s effort helped spark the Hornets to a 6-0 record, the best start to a season in franchise history.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week include Philadelphia’s Elton Brand, New York’s Toney Douglas, Atlanta’s Al Horford and Josh Smith, San Antonio’s Richard Jefferson, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New Orleans’ Emeka Okafor, Phoenix’s Jason Richardson, Houston’s Luis Scola, and Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace.

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NBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: NOV. 1, 2010

The Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, October 26, through Sunday, October 31.

Rondo helped the Celtics to a 2-1 record to start their season, including an opening-night victory over the Miami Heat. The 6-1 guard’s week was highlighted by a 24-assist performance in a win over the New York Knicks. In the team’s opening three games, Rondo dished out 50 assists, which tied John Stockton (1989-90) for the best three-game start in NBA history. Rondo averaged 10.7 points, 16.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds for the week, while also recording the first triple double of the new season against the Knicks.

Gasol led the Lakers to a perfect 3-0 week, averaging 25.3 points on .525 shooting from the field to go with 10.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Gasol opened the season with a 29-point effort in a home win over the Rockets. He also recorded a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Warriors on Sunday night.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Boston’s Paul Pierce, Golden State’s Monta Ellis, Houston’s Luis Scola, Indiana’s Roy Hibbert, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, New Jersey’s Brook Lopez and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

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