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Monthly NBA awards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić win honors for January

See the Players, Rookies, Coaches and Defensive Players of the Month for games played in January.

From NBA.com Staff

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Players of the Month

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the Kia NBA Players of the Month for games played in January.

Western Conference: Jokić averaged 27.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 11.4 assists and 1.9 steals 14 games during the month of January. The three-time Kia MVP led the Nuggets to a record of 10-4 in games in which he played and they currently are fourth in the Western Conference standings.

Jokić recorded eight triple-doubles in the month span, tied for the fifth most in a single month in NBA history. In January, the Joker ranked first in assists per game, second in double-doubles, fourth in rebounds per game, fourth in points per game, and seventh in steals per game in the Western Conference.This is the eighth Player of the Month honor in his career, the most in franchise history.

Eastern Conference: Antetokounmpo averaged 30.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 60% from the field during the month of January, helping the Bucks record the fifth highest-scoring January in franchise history (118.5 ppg).

The two-time Kia MVP tallied a league-high 15 double-doubles in January to continue his season-long streak of 19 consecutive double-doubles, which is the longest active streak in the NBA this season and the second-longest of his career. This is Antetokounmpo’s first Player of the Month honor this season and the 11th of his career.

Rookies of the Month

San Antonio Spurs guard and Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware have been named the Kia NBA Rookies of the Month for games played in January.

Western Conference: In January, Castle averaged a rookie-best 14.9 ppg to go with 3.6 apg and 3.1 rpg. The 2025 Rising Star reached double-digit scoring in nine games, including five contests with 20-plus points to lead all rookies.

The first-year guard scored a season-high 26 points on Jan. 15 vs. Memphis before recording 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 0 turnovers on Jan. 31 vs. Milwaukee, becoming the first NBA rookie to record 20/8/6 without a turnover since Will Baron in 2013. Castle is the only rookie with 500-plus points, 100-plus rebounds and 100-plus assists this season.

Eastern Conference: In January, Ware averaged 13 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 1.4 bpg while shooting 56.5% overall and 44.7% on 3-pointers. For the month, he led all rookies in points, rebounds, 3-point field goal percentage (minimum 25 attempts) and tied for the most double-doubles while also finishing second in blocks, fourth in steals and tied for fifth in three-point field goals made.

Ware became the first rookie in team history to post at least 20 points and 15 rebounds without recording a single turnover on Jan. 21 vs. Portland. In the same game, he also blocked two shots, becoming just the second NBA rookie over the last 40 years to post at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks in his first career start since David Robinson on Nov. 4, 1989. He also became just the fourth rookie in franchise history to post double-doubles in each of his first two career starts, first on January 21 and again on January 23.

Defensive Players of the Month

Houston Rockets guard-forward Amen Thompson and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard have been named the Kia NBA Defensive Players of the Month for games played in January.

Western Conference: Thompson totaled 26 steals and 17 blocks in 12 games to help guide the Rockets to a 9-3 record during the month of January. The sophomore guard-forward was the league’s only player to average least 2.00 steals per game and 1.00 blocks per game for the month.

Eastern Conference: Nembhard collected a team-high 21 steals over his 11 starts and helped guide the Pacers to a 10-2 record during the month of January. Indiana outscored its opponents by 10.3 points per game during the month and allowed 109.2 points per game. Indiana has posted the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA while allowing 111.6 points per game over its last 23 games.

Coaches of the Month

Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle have been named the NBA Coaches of the Month for games in January.

Western Conference: In December, Udoka led the Rockets, who are currently No. 3 in the Western Conference standings, to an 11-4 record. At 32-16, the Rockets are off to their best start since a 35-13 start in 2017-18 that culminated with a trip to the Western Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference: This marks Carlisle’s first Coach of the Month honors since claiming the Western Conference Coach of the Month award in February of 2011. He led the Cavs to an NBA-best 10-2 (.833) record in January as the Pacers (27-20) are No. 4 in the Eastern Conference.

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