NEW YORK – The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played during March.

Rose helped the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls to a 13-3 record in March, a month in which he tallied career highs in points (42 vs. Indiana on March 18) and assists (17 vs. Milwaukee on March 26). Rose, who is the only player in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in both points (25.0 ppg, 7^th) and assists (7.9 apg, 10^th), also set career highs in three-pointers made (six vs. Atlanta on March 22) and free throws made and free throws attempted (18-21 vs. Indiana on March 18).

Bryant averaged 25.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists, leading the Lakers to a 12-1 record on the month, bringing them within 2 ½ games of San Antonio for first place in the Western Conference. Bryant achieved several milestones in March, moving ahead of Moses Malone for sixth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list during a 26-point performance in a win at Atlanta on March 8, and passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Lakers’ all-time leader in games played in a win over New Orleans on March 27. Bryant also tallied a season-high 42 points, to go along with 12 rebounds and nine assists in a win over Phoenix on March 22.

Here is a closer look at the month for Rose and Bryant:

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

March 11 vs. Atlanta: Tallied 34 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 94-76 victory.

March 18 @ Indiana: Set career highs in points (42), and free throws made and attempted       (18-21) in a 115-108 overtime loss.

March 22 @ Atlanta: Notched 30 points and 10 assists in a 114-81 win.

March 26 @ Milwaukee: Scored 30 points with a career-high 17 assists in a 95-87 win.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

March 6 @ San Antonio: Logged 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 99-83 win.

March 22 vs. Phoenix: Had a season-high 42 points and 12 rebounds in a 139-137 triple-overtime victory.

March 25 vs. Clippers: Tallied 37 points, four rebounds and six assists in a 112-104 win.

March 31 vs. Dallas: Scored 28 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists in a 110-82 victory.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Houston’s Kyle Lowry, Miami’s Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, New Jersey’s Kris Humphries, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala and Sacramento’s Marcus Thornton.

The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its fourth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes four of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, and Most Improved Player.  Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the all-new Kia Optima is the league’s Official Vehicle.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards” visit www.NBA.com/awards.