After leading the New York Knicks to a 10-4 record and averaging 30.6 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 40.5% from deep, Jalen Brunson was an obvious choice for the Eastern Conference’s Kia NBA _Player of the Month_.
Taking the honor in the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.4 ppg, 6.1 apg, 59.4 FG%. His Oklahoma City Thunder went 9-4 through the last month of the calendar.
Not only was Captain Clutch a monster scorer for the month, his assist-to-turnover ratio for that 14 game span was 7.1 APG to 1.9 TOV, and he made 81% of his free throws.
This award is just one more accolade in what’s been another fantastic year for New York’s floor general. Brunson won NBA Player of the Week twice in December 2025, first for Week 6 (games Dec. 2-8), and again for Week 9 (games Dec. 15-21). As the tournament MVP, he led the New York Knicks to their first-ever NBA Cup title on December 16, 2025, besting the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in Las Vegas. And in the first round of fan voting for the All-Star Game, he ranked third in ballots, receiving over 1 million votes.
There’s just one more trophy that would make the mantle complete. . . .
Other award-winners for December were Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte Hornets three-slinger Kon Knueppel, named the _Rookies of the Month_; and OKC’s human coat rack Chet Holmgren received the _Defensive Player of the Month_ tag with Isaiah Stewart.