James Harden was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday — the fourth time this season he has received the honor and the 22nd time in his career.
During the week-long span, the Rockets went 3-1. Harden averaged 44.3 points per game while shooting 50.0% from the floor, 52.8% from three-point range and 90.7% from the free throw line.
According to NBA.com, Harden scored a total of 177 points in 145 minutes of play for the week and is close to averaging a point per minute played this season (2,545 points in 2,604 minutes played). Since minutes started being tracked in 1951-52, Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62) is the only player to have played more than 50 minutes in a season while averaging a point per minute.
On the season, the reigning MVP is averaging 36.4 points, 7.5 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.17 steals. He is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to have averaged at least 35 points per game and seven assists in a single season.
The Rockets own the NBA’s best winning percentage since the All-Star break with a 14-2 record (82.4%). Houston is one of six teams with at least 47 wins this season and has a record of 8-4 against the other five teams on that list (Denver, Golden State, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto).
