Houston's star center Yao Ming of China earned Player of the
Week honors in the National Basketball Association Western
Conference, while LeBron James continued his hold on the Eastern
Conference award.
Yao averaged 33.3 points on 62.5 percent shooting and 12.3
rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 2-1 mark in the week.
He led the Rockets in points and rebounds in all three contests
and tied his season high with 38 points in a 105-103 win over the
Washington Wizards on Friday.
All-Star forward James earned the Eastern Conference honor for a
record third straight week, after averaging a league-best 42.7
points on 62.5 percent shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists while
leading the Cavaliers to a 3-0 record.
The three-week run also enabled James to win the Player of the
Month award.
On Saturday, James posted his sixth triple-double of the season
with 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 106-99 triumph over
the Miami Heat.
James won the weekly award for the fifth time this season and
eighth of his career. No other player had won the award three
straight weeks since its inception during the 1979-80 campaign.
(Agencies via China Daily April 4, 2006)