Rockets wing Amen Thompson and Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard have won January’s Defensive Player of the Month awards for the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, the NBA announced today (Twitter link).
The Rockets went 11-4 in January and Thompson played a significant role during that hot streak, leading the Western Conference with 2.2 steals per game and ranking seventh in the conference with 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, according to the league.
Thompson was also the only player in the NBA to average at least two steals and one block per game for January.
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama and Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr., who were the first two Defensive Players of the Month in the West this season, were nominated for the honor in January, as were Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, and Clippers big man Ivica Zubac (Twitter link).
Nembhard helped lead the Pacers to a 109.7 defensive rating across 12 games in January, including 10 wins. That mark ranked first in the East and third in the NBA. The Indiana guard also placed third in the East in steals (1.9) and forced turnovers (2.1) per game for the month.
Nembhard beat out four fellow nominees: Scottie Barnes of the Raptors, Mikal Bridges of the Knicks, teammate Myles Turner, and Oct./Nov. winner Dyson Daniels of the Hawks.
This is the second of the NBA’s awards for January that was claimed by the Rockets and Pacers — Ime Udoka and Rick Carlisle were named the league’s Coaches of the Month on Monday.