New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have been named the NBA's West and East Players of the Week for Dec. 5-11.
Williamson led the Pelicans to a 3-0 record, including two big wins over the Phoenix Suns to give New Orleans the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Last week, Zion averaged 33.0 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 70.4% from the field.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 8 of the 2022-23 season (Dec. 5-11). pic.twitter.com/fBc2COC0Vg
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 12, 2022
Embiid led the 76ers to a 2-1 record and had several dominant showings, including a 53-point, 12-rebound performance to beat the Charlotte Hornets and a 38-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist outing to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers. Embiid averaged 43.3 points and 10.3 rebounds, while shooting 63.9% from the field.
Williamson and Embiid beat out fellow nominees Luka Dončić (DAL), Rudy Gobert (MIN), Nikola Jokić (DEN), Ja Morant (MEM), Jarrett Allen (CLE), DeMar DeRozan (CHI), Buddy Hield (IND), Julius Randle (NYK) and Franz Wagner (ORL).