Monthly NBA awards: Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama win honors for March
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks secures East Player of the Month, as Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs takes the West Rookie of the Month title.
Players of the Month
Luka Doncic, a guard for the Dallas Mavericks, and Jalen Brunson, a guard for the New York Knicks, have been recognized as the Kia NBA Players of the Month for March.
Western Conference: Doncic led the Mavs to an 11-4 record in March while averaging a 30-point triple-double (32.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 10.1 apg). It marked the second time in his career that he averaged a 30-point triple-double during any calendar month. Oscar Robertson (5 times) and Russell Westbrook (twice) are the only other players in NBA history to average a 30-point triple-double in a month.
Doncic becomes the first player in franchise history to earn the monthly award in consecutive months and joins Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki as the only Mavericks to receive the honor twice in the same season.
Eastern Conference: Brunson led New York to a 9-5 mark in March while averaging 28.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. The superstar guard put up a career-high 61 points in a 130-126 overtime loss to San Antonio on March 29, just one point shy of the Knicks’ single-game record (62 points by Carmelo Anthony in Jan. 2014).
The @Kia NBA Players of the Month for March! #KiaPOTM
West: Luka Doncic (@dallasmavs)
East: Jalen Brunson (@nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/PHlLBFfo10— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024
Rookies of the Month
The NBA has named Victor Wembanyama, forward-center for the San Antonio Spurs, and Brandon Miller, forward for the Charlotte Hornets, as the Rookies of the Month for March.
Western Conference: Wembanyama earns the monthly honors for the third straight month, making him the first Spur since Tim Duncan to capture the award three months in a row.
Wembanyama appeared in 12 games (all starts) for the Spurs in March, averaging 21.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, a league-leading 3.83 blocks and 1.17 steals in 31.7 minutes to lead all rookies in scoring, rebounding and blocks for the month. He posted eight double-doubles, including a season-high 40 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists vs. the Knicks on March 29, becoming the first rookie with 40-plus points and 20-plus rebounds since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993.
Eastern Conference: Miller also takes home the monthly honors for the third straight month, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to earn three Rookie of the Month honors, joining LaMelo Ball, Raymond Felton, Larry Johnson and Emeka Okafor.
In the 2023 NBA Draft, Miller was the second player selected overall. During the 14 games (all starts) in March, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. On March 27, he scored 31 points and hit a career-best seven 3-pointers in a victory against Cleveland, equalling the Hornets’ record for the most 3s in a single game by a rookie.
The @Kia NBA Rookies of the Month for March! #KiaROTM
West: Victor Wembanyama (@spurs)
East: Brandon Miller (@hornets) pic.twitter.com/5ADKSERTC4— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024
Coaches of the Month
Ime Udoka, head coach of the Houston Rockets, and Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Boston Celtics, have been announced as the NBA Coaches of the Month for March.
Western Conference: Udoka led the Rockets to a 13-2 mark in March that featured an 11-game win streak. Houston is currently 11th in the Western Conference standings, sitting two games behind Golden State for the final SoFi Play-In Tournament spot.
Eastern Conference: Mazulla led the NBA-leading Celtics to a 12-4 mark in March, the second-best overall record in the league and the best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference (.750). This is the third career Coach of the Month award for Mazulla, which is tied for the second most monthly honors in franchise history alongside Brad Stevens (3) and trailing only Doc Rivers (6).
March’s NBA Coaches of the Month!
West: Ime Udoka (@HoustonRockets)
East: Joe Mazzulla (@celtics) pic.twitter.com/Y91oUiS3nZ— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2024
Past winners
February:
- Players: Luka Doncic + Jayson Tatum
- Rookies: Victor Wembanyama + Brandon Miller
- Coaches: Steve Kerr + Erik Spoelstra
January:
- Players: Devin Booker + Donovan Mitchell
- Rookies: Victor Wembanyama + Brandon Miller
- Coaches: Tyronn Lue + Tom Thibodeau
December:
- Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander + Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Rookies: Chet Holmgren + Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Coaches: Tyronn Lue + Joe Mazzula
October/November:
- Players: Nikola Jokic + Jayson Tatum
- Rookies: Chet Holmgren + Jaime Jaquez Jr.
- Coaches: Chris Finch + Jamahl Mosley
