In an exciting week for NBA fans, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail Blazers were in the spotlight as nominees for the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 22. The duo played pivotal roles in leading the Blazers to a solid 3-1 record, showcasing their skills and resilience on the court.
Deni Avdija made a triumphant return to form, reminiscent of his pre-injury performances. Averaging 24.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, Avdija was a force to be reckoned with. While his shooting percentages were a bit off-39.1% from the field and 27.1% from beyond the arc-he compensated with his prowess at the free-throw line, sinking 80.9% of his 11.8 attempts per game.
Meanwhile, Donovan Clingan was equally impressive, contributing 20.3 points per game. He hit a career-high 28 points in a victory over Indiana, and his shooting from deep was notable, making 8 of 17 three-pointers. Clingan's presence on the boards was significant as well, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game, with 5.0 coming from the offensive glass.
Despite their stellar performances, Avdija and Clingan were outpaced by Luka Doncic, who claimed the award for the fourth time this season. Doncic was on another level, averaging a jaw-dropping 42.3 points, alongside 6.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to an undefeated 4-0 week.
Avdija and Clingan found themselves among a talented group of nominees, including Ayo Dosunmu and Rudy Gobert from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets, and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Over in the Eastern Conference, LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets took home the Player of the Week honors, spearheading his team to a 3-0 record. Ball's averages of 26.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds were instrumental in the Hornets' success. Other nominees from the East included Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons, James Harden and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks.
This week was a testament to the depth of talent across the league, with players stepping up and delivering memorable performances. Fans have plenty to be excited about as the season continues to heat up.