# NBA Player of the Month and Week

The NBA Player of the Month and NBA Player of the Week are regular awards given by the National Basketball Association (NBA) to recognize outstanding performances by players during the regular season. These honors are presented based on individual and team performances.

## History

The NBA began awarding the Player of the Month and Player of the Week distinctions during the 1979–80 season. The Player of the Month was first awarded to Moses Malone in November 1979 and Player of the Week to Julius Erving in October 1979. Initially, only one player in the entire league was awarded each week, but since the 2001-02 season, at least two players are selected, one from the Eastern Conference and another from the Western Conference. On rare occasions, the award has been shared by two or more players. One instance occurred in January 2015, when the Atlanta Hawks starting five (Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap) were named co-recipients of the Player of the Month award for leading the team to a 17–0 record.

## Criteria

Both awards are determined by evaluating players' statistical achievements and their teams' success during the relevant period. For the Player of the Week award, performances in a seven-day span are considered, while the Player of the Month award is based on performances over an entire calendar month.

## Notable Records

LeBron James holds the record for the most Player of the Month and Player of the Week awards with 41 and 69 respectively as of March 2025. He is the oldest player to win either award.
| * | Denotes players inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Denotes players who are still active in the NBA |
Most NBA Player of the Week Awards (Minimum 10) :
| Player | Awards | Seasons |
| LeBron James^ | 69 | From 2005 to 2025 |
| Kobe Bryant* | 33 | From 2000 to 2013 |
| Kevin Durant^ | 32 | From 2010 to 2024 |
| James Harden^ | 26 | From 2013 to 2021 |
| Michael Jordan* | 25 | From 1985 to 2003 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | 25 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Tim Duncan* | 23 | From 1998 to 2015 |
| Allen Iverson* | 23 | From 1997 to 2008 |
| Karl Malone* | 23 | From 1987 to 2002 |
| Stephen Curry^ | 20 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Kevin Garnett* | 20 | From 1999 to 2012 |
| Shaquille O'Neal* | 20 | From 1993 to 2005 |
| Russell Westbrook^ | 20 | From 2010 to 2021 |
| Carmelo Anthony | 19 | From 2004 to 2020 |
| Dwyane Wade* | 19 | From 2004 to 2016 |
| Dwight Howard | 18 | From 2007 to 2012 |
| Magic Johnson* | 18 | From 1980 to 1991 |
| Jason Kidd* | 17 | From 1995 to 2009 |
| Paul Pierce* | 17 | From 2001 to 2012 |
| Nikola Jokic^ | 17 | From 2018 to 2025 |
| Damian Lillard^ | 16 | From 2015 to 2023 |
| Dirk Nowitzki* | 16 | From 2002 to 2014 |
| Larry Bird* | 15 | From 1980 to 1988 |
| David Robinson* | 15 | From 1990 to 1998 |
| DeMar DeRozan^ | 15 | From 2016 to 2024 |
| Joel Embiid^ | 14 | From 2017 to 2024 |
| Chris Paul^ | 14 | From 2006 to 2022 |
| Luka Doncic^ | 14 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Patrick Ewing* | 12 | From 1986 to 1997 |
| Tracy McGrady* | 12 | From 2002 to 2008 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon* | 12 | From 1989 to 1997 |
| Jayson Tatum^ | 12 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Charles Barkley* | 11 | From 1986 to 1997 |
| Vince Carter* | 11 | From 1999 to 2007 |
| Clyde Drexler* | 11 | From 1986 to 1995 |
| Paul George^ | 11 | From 2013 to 2023 |
| Anthony Davis^ | 11 | From 2015 to 2024 |
| Devin Booker^ | 10 | From 2021 to 2024 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | 10 | From 2011 to 2018 |
Most NBA Player of the Month Awards (Minimum 5) :
| Player | Awards | Seasons |
| LeBron James^ | 41 | From 2005 to 2025 |
| Kobe Bryant* | 17 | From 2001 to 2013 |
| Michael Jordan* | 16 | From 1987 to 1998 |
| Kevin Durant^ | 15 | From 2010 to 2022 |
| Shaquille O'Neal* | 12 | From 1994 to 2005 |
| James Harden^ | 11 | From 2015 to 2021 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo^ | 11 | From 2017 to 2025 |
| Stephen Curry^ | 10 | From 2013 to 2022 |
| Russell Westbrook^ | 9 | From 2015 to 2021 |
| Kevin Garnett* | 9 | From 2000 to 2005 |
| Chris Paul^ | 8 | From 2008 to 2017 |
| Nikola Jokic^ | 8 | From 2021 to 2025 |
| Larry Bird* | 7 | From 1980 to 1986 |
| Joel Embiid^ | 7 | From 2019 to 2023 |
| Karl Malone* | 7 | From 1988 to 2001 |
| Dwight Howard | 6 | From 2006 to 2011 |
| Magic Johnson* | 6 | From 1981 to 1990 |
| Dirk Nowitzki* | 6 | From 2003 to 2009 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon* | 6 | From 1986 to 1995 |
| Dwyane Wade* | 6 | From 2005 to 2011 |
| Luka Doncic^ | 5 | From 2019 to 2024 |
| Jayson Tatum^ | 5 | From 2020 to 2024 |
| Carmelo Anthony | 5 | From 2006 to 2014 |
| Patrick Ewing* | 5 | From 1989 to 1995 |