Overview
- The NBA announced on Jan. 2 that New York’s Jalen Brunson and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won December’s Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month awards.
- Brunson averaged 30.6 points and 7.1 assists with .475/.405/.826 shooting in 13 December games, and the Knicks went 10-3 in the games he played.
- Gilgeous-Alexander produced 31.4 points, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game on .594/.436/.882 shooting as the Thunder went 9-4, extending their league-best start to 29-5.
- Brown reacted with a "Smh" post after being listed among Eastern nominees, following a month that included nine straight 30-point games and averages of 31.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
- Boston’s Joe Mazzulla was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for leading the Celtics to a strong December performance.