Hornets’ Steve Clifford, Warriors’ Steve Kerr named
NBA Coaches of the Month
NEW YORK – The Charlotte Hornets’ Steve Clifford and the Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr today
were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively,
for games played in March.
Clifford led the Hornets to the East’s best record at 13-3. The 13 wins are a Hornets franchise record
for a month. Charlotte opened March with a seven-game winning streak during which their average
margin of victory was 15.1 points. The Hornets ranked second in the Eastern Conference in scoring
at 109.2 ppg, and their eight home wins improved their season tally to 27 – third most in the conference.
Kerr guided the Warriors to the West’s best record at 15-2. Golden State posted a seven-game
winning streak from March 7-18 and closed the month on a six-game winning streak.
The Warriors led the NBA in scoring at 114.0 ppg and ranked second in the Western Conference
in field goal percentage at 47.9 percent. At 68-7, the Warriors have joined the 1995-96 and
1996-97 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to win 65 or more games in consecutive seasons.
Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy,
Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan, San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and
Toronto’s Dwane Casey.
Heat’s Josh Richardson, Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns
named Kia NBA Rookies of the Month
NEW YORK– The Miami Heat’s Josh Richardson and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns
today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively,
for games played in March.
Richardson helped the Heat go 10-5 in March by ranking second among East rookies in scoring (12.0 ppg)
and assists (2.1 apg), and leading the conference’s first-year players in field goal percentage (53.7),
three-point field goal percentage (58.9) and steals (1.3 spg). He averaged 29.1 minutes for the month
and scored in double figures in eight of 10 games from March 9-28. His versatility was on full display
March 14, when Richardson posted 17 points (including 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range),
four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in a 124-119 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Towns, the West winner for the fifth month in a row, ranked second among rookies in scoring (21.9 ppg)
and led all first-year players in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and field goal percentage (58.2).
He scored in double figures in all 15 of Minnesota’s games and posted 11 games with 10 or more rebounds,
adding to his franchise rookie record for double-doubles, which now stands at 48.
On March 23, Towns accounted for 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks during a 113-104 win
over the Sacramento Kings.
Here is a closer look at March for Richardson and Towns:
Josh Richardson, Miami Heat
March 11 @ Chicago: Scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and added four assists
during a 118-96 win over the Bulls.
March 14 vs. Denver: Recorded 17 points and added four rebounds, three blocks,
two assists and two steals in a 124-119 victory over the Nuggets.
March 28 vs. Brooklyn: Tallied 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals during a 110-99
win over the Nets.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
March 5 vs. Brooklyn: Scored 28 points and added seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks and
two steals in a 132-118 win over the Nets.
March 23 vs. Sacramento: Posted 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks during a 113-104 win
over the Kings.
March 28 vs. Phoenix: Contributed 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists during a 121-116 victory
over the Suns.
Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were
Denver’s Emmanuel Mudiay, New York’s Kristaps Porzingis, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and
Toronto’s Norman Powell.
Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month
The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of oncourt
performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its ninth season,
is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes
five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Kia Most Valuable Player Award,
Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia Sixth Man Award, Kia Most Improved Player Award and
Kia Rookie of the Year. It also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month
during the regular season. Kia serves as the Official Automotive Partner and Official Luxury Vehicle
of the NBA. For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards,” visit NBA.com/awards.
Cavaliers’ LeBron James, Thunder’s Russell Westbrook
named Kia NBA Players of the Month
NEW YORK – The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook
today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively,
for games played in March.
James ranked second in the East in scoring (25.6 ppg) and fifth in assists (7.1 apg) as the Cavaliers
went 11-5 for the month (10-4 with James in the lineup). He added 8.2 rebounds and shot 53.8 percent
from the field. James was the only player in the NBA to average at least 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds
and 7.0 assists in March. He posted seven double-doubles and recorded two triple-doubles.
In a 107-87 win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 31, James scored 24 points to move into 12th place
on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (he is now 11th).
Westbrook led the Thunder to an 11-5 record behind averages of 21.7 points, 10.6 assists (third in the NBA)
and 8.3 rebounds. His seven triple-doubles in March were the most in a calendar month since
Michael Jordan had seven in April 1989. Those performances increased Westbrook’s season total
to 16 triple-doubles, the most since Magic Johnson had 17 in 1988-89.
Westbrook scored at least 20 points in 11 of 16 games for the month and logged nine games with
double-digit assists, including a career-high 19 in a 120-109 win over the Clippers on March 9.
Here is a closer look at March for James and Westbrook:
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
March 5 vs. Boston: Finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 120-103 win
over the Celtics.
March 21 vs. Denver: Posted a triple-double with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 124-91
win over the Nuggets.
March 26 @ New York: Logged second triple-double in March with 27 points, 11 rebounds and
11 assists in a 107-93 win over the Knicks.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
March 9 vs. L.A. Clippers: Finished with 25 points, 19 assists and 11 rebounds in a 120-108
win over the Clippers.
March 22 vs. Houston: Scored 21 points and added 15 assists and 12 rebounds in a 111-107
win over the Rockets.
March 28 @ Toronto: Tallied 26 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 119-100 win over the Raptors.
Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were
Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki,
Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Houston’s James Harden, Miami’s Hassan Whiteside,
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Portland’s Damian Lillard, San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge and
Kawhi Leonard, and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.
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