Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball great captures NBA Player of the Week

Two former Duke basketball stars are among the NBA's top 10 MVP candidates.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball great captures NBA Player of the Week
Duke basketball great captures NBA Player of the Week /
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Jayson Tatum was the NBA Player of the Month from the Eastern Conference for November and still sits No. 1 on NBA.com's Kia MVP Ladder. But another Duke basketball product is quickly becoming the talk of the league and looks like a frontrunner for the NBA Player of the Month award from the West for December.

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His name is Zion Williamson. The 22-year-old New Orleans Pelicans power forward appeared on the MVP rankings last week at No. 10.

And on Monday, he received the title as the Western Conference Player of the Week (Dec. 5-10); Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is the selection from the Eastern Conference.

One could argue that Williamson has been the NBA's best player over the past two weeks. In that span, the 6-foot-6, 285-pound star has led the Pelicans to the league's longest current winning streak at seven games and into the top spot in the Western Conference standings at 18-8. (Tatum's Boston Celtics remain atop the East at 21-6.)

Across these past seven games, while the Pelicans have been without former Duke basketball one-and-done Brandon Ingram (toe injury), Zion Williamson has been on another planet. He's averaged 30.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 66.9 percent from the field and 74.6 percent from the foul line.

Next up for the New Orleans Pelicans is a road game against the Utah Jazz (15-14) at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday. The Pelicans have already ruled out Brandon Ingram for the contest.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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