James Harden Wins Western Conference Player of the Week

So much for an early season slump. James Harden was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, earning the honor for the 23rd time in his career. All 23 Player of the Week awards have come during Harden's eight seasons in Houston.

Harden rebounded from his early shooting struggles with a lights-out performance in Houston's last three games. He averaged 40.7 points per game last week while shooting 43% from three, adding 9.3 assists and eight rebounds. Harden drained 22 threes over the last week. Houston's opponents combined to make just 20 triples in the three-game stretch.

Houston's shooting guard is off to a historic scoring start to the season. Harden has scored 334 points in his first nine games, the most of any player since Michael Jordan in 1988-89, per the RocketsWire's Ben DuBose. Harden currently leads the league with 37.1 points per game. He is looking to become just the third player in NBA history to win three straight scoring titles, joining Jordan and Kevin Durant. 

The Rockets went 3–0 last week amid Harden's scoring tear with wins over the Grizzlies, Warriors and Bulls. Harden will have another opportunity to rack up the points on Monday against the Pelicans, who sport the NBA's second-worst defensive rating. 

Harden was joined by the Raptors' Pascal Siakam in Monday's Player of the Week honors. Siakam won his second career Player of the Week award after averaging 30.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over the last week. Toronto went 3–0 in Siakam's hot stretch. 

Harden will face Siakam on Dec. 5 as the Raptors hosts the Rockets at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.