San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker has been named Western Conference Player of the month for January.
Parker earns his first Player of the Month award by averaging a team-high 21.9 points (ninth in the NBA), 7.9 assists (seventh), 2.5 rebounds and 1.13 steals in 33.3 minutes as the Spurs finished the month 12-3, tying Denver for the best record in January. The 11-year veteran shot .563 (135-230) from the field for the month, ranking ninth in the league and best overall among all guards. Parker recorded five double-doubles and scored 20-or-more points in 12 of 15 games, including 30-or-more twice. (Spurs.com)
Parker has had an incredible season so far and an even incredible January. In his last 7 games this month, he's scored 20 or more points per game and dished out 7 or more assists in those games including 24 points and 13 assists against the New Orleans Hornets in their most recent game. The official Spurs twitter page has also pointed out how special this recognition is.
Parker is the first Spur to receive the honor since Tim Duncan in 2002, and only the fifth recipient in franchise history. (@Spurs)
Tony Parker has been the catalyst on this team and the Spurs will go as far as he can take them. Parker has been the most consistent player so far this season, especially when he's carried the burden for players who have been injured such as Manu Ginobili, Stephen Jackson, and Tim Duncan for the most part. If you need further proof Parker's season is special, take into account this from the Spurs.com article.
He is the only player in the NBA averaging 20-plus points and 7-plus assists while shooting .500-or-better from the field and .800-or-better from the free throw line. Parker currently ranks seventh in the NBA is assists, 11th in scoring and 17th in field goal percentage.
The Spurs and Parker himself have been outside looking in as far as recognition and popularity around the league, but this well deserved recognition for the French point guard is definitely making his contributions known and he doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
