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Since the 1979-80 NBA season, the league has handed the Player of the Week awards. The first ever recipient of the Player of the Week award was Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Until the 2000-01 NBA season, there was only one recipient of the Player of the Week Award regardless of the conference. The league changed it to one each for the Eastern and Western Conferences next season. The last ever winner of the solo Player of the Week Award was Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The first ever winner of the Eastern Conference Player of the Week was also Ray Allen of the Bucks. For the Western Conference Player of the Week, it was the late, great Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers.
Now, let's take a look at the all-time list of players with the most number of NBA Player of the Week awards.
#5 Michael Jordan - 25 awards
Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. However, Jordan only has 25 NBA Player of the Week awards to his name. The reason for this was that there was only one Player of the Week award for most of his career.
Jordan's first ever NBA Player of the Week award came in Week 12 of his rookie season. He averaged 31.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks in four games.
Meanwhile, the highest number of Player of the Week awards Jordan has won in a season is four. He did it in the 1988-89 NBA season. His Airness also won two Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards in his final season as a member of the Washington Wizards.
#4 James Harden - 26 awards and counting
James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets currently sits fourth on the all-time list for most NBA Player of the Week awards with 26. Since Harden is still playing, he will likely add to that number and rank higher when he retires.
The former MVP won his first Player of the Week award in his first week as a member of the Houston Rockets in the 2012-13 NBA season. He averated 35.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.7 steals in three games.
Harden was never named Player of the Week as part of the Oklahoma City Thunder because he primarily played as a sixth man. 24 of his 26 Player of the Week awards were during his time with the Rockets and two as a member of the Nets.
Also Read: How many rings did Kobe Bryant Win?
#3 Kevin Durant - 27 awards and counting
Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets has the third-most NBA Player of the Week awards with 27. Durant will surely add more before he retires, which means he could reach as high as second when it's all set and done.
Durant won his first Western Conference Player of the Week award in the tenth week of his third season as part of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 34.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 blocks in four games.
As a member of the Thunder, Durant won the Player of the Week award 24 times. He only won it twice as a Golden State Warriors and once last season in his first healthy season in Brooklyn.
#2 Kobe Bryant - 33 awards
Kobe Bryant sits second on the all-time list for most NBA Player of the Week awards with 33. Bryant won his first ever Player of the Week award in the final week of his fourth season.
Mamba averaged 29.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in three games. It was Kobe's breakout season as he was named an All-Star and to the All-NBA Second Team. He also won his first NBA championship that season with the LA Lakers.
The highest number of Player of the Week awards Kobe Bryant won in a season was five. Bryant did it twice in the 2002-03 and 2005-06 NBA seasons. He won his final Player of the Week award in the final week of the 2012-13 season. He averaged 37.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks in three games.
Also Read: Who is Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant?
#1 LeBron James - 64 awards and counting
LeBron James holds the record for the highest NBA Player of the Week awards with 64. Already in his 19th season, James likely adds a few more before he retires. He won his first ever Player of the Week award in Week 2 of his second season.
James averaged 29.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in three games. He won two more Player of the Week awards in his second season. His high for one season was seven in the 2008-09 season.
The King last won the Player of the Week award as a member of the LA Lakers in the last week before the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended. He averaged a near triple-double of 29.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.0 steals.
LeBron James has won 26 times in his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, 19 times with the Miami Heat, 16 times in his second stint with the Cavaliers and three with the Lakers.
Guess the Lakers players!
