NEW YORK – The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin were today named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

In helping guide the Heat to an NBA-best 9-1 record, James averaged 30.8 points (second in the conference) to go along with 8.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. James, who missed a game after he suffered a broken nose, also shot .575 from the field, becoming only the second player (Wilt Chamberlain) to average at least 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting at least .570 for a calendar month. In a 111-110 win at Golden State on Feb. 12, James recorded 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

Among Western Conference players, Griffin ranked third in scoring (30.0 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (10.7 rpg), and was one of only two players in the league to average at least 30.0 points and 10.0 rebounds for the month. He recorded eight point-rebound double-doubles, and extended his career-best streak of 20-plus-point games to 19. In a 116-112 loss to Miami Feb. 5, Griffin recorded 43 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.

Here is a closer look at the month for James and Griffin:

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Feb. 3 vs. Detroit: Tallied 24 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a 102-96 win over the Pistons.

Feb. 11 @ Phoenix: Collected 37 points, nine rebounds and five steals in a 103-97 win over the Suns.

Feb 20 @ Oklahoma City: Scored 33 points to go along with seven rebounds and four steals in a 103-81 win over the Thunder.

Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Feb. 1 vs. Utah: Posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a 102-87 win over the Jazz.

Feb. 12 vs. Portland: Netted a 36-points, 10-rebound double-double in a 122-117 win over the Trail Blazers.

Feb. 26 vs. Houston: Posted a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double to go along with three assists and two steals in a 101-93 win over the Rockets.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Brooklyn’s Deron Williams, Charlotte’s Al Jefferson, Chicago’s Joakim Noah, Houston’s James Harden and Dwight Howard, Indiana’s Paul George and David West, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Phoenix’s Goran Dragic, Portland’s Damian Lillard, San Antonio’s Patty Mills, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Washington’s John Wall.

Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month

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 seventh 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.  The series also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month during the regular season.  Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the Kia Optima is the league’s Official Vehicle.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards” visit www.NBA.com/awards.