NEW YORK – The Philadelphia 76ers’ Michael Carter-Williams and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Love were today named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 3.

 Carter-Williams is only the second player (Shaquille O’Neal, 1992) to earn the honor to begin his rookie season. The 11^th overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, Carter-Williams helped guide the Sixers to a 3-0 start, which included wins over the defending champion Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. In his first three NBA games, Carter-Williams averaged 20.7 points and team highs of 9.0 assists and 4.3 steals. In his NBA debut on Oct. 30, a 114-110 home win over the Heat, Carter-Williams recorded 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds.  The nine steals were the most by a rookie in his NBA debut, while the 12 assists represented the second most for a player in his first NBA game (Buffalo’s Ernie DiGregorio dished 14 assists in his NBA debut in 1973).

Love led Minnesota to a 3-0 mark, the second time in franchise history the Timberwolves have opened the season with at least three straight wins. Love paced the team in scoring and rebounding each game, averaging a league-best 29.7 points and ranking with 4.7 rpg. He had at least 30 points and 15 rebounds twice, giving him 20 such games since entering the league in 2008-09, second over that span to Dwight Howard (23). In the team’s season opener Oct. 30 – a 120-115 overtime victory against the Orlando Magic — Love finished with 31 points and 17 rebounds, and sank the game-tying three-pointer to force overtime.

Here is a recap of the week for Carter-Williams and Love:

Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers

Oct. 30 vs. Miami: Recorded 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds in a 114-110 win over the Heat

Nov. 1 @ Washington: Contributed 14 points, five assists and three boards in a 109-102 victory at Washington.  

Nov. 2 vs. Chicago: Posted a double-double with 26 points and 10 assists in a 107-104 win against the Bulls.

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Oct. 30 vs. Orlando: Scored 37 points, including a three to force overtime, and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 120-115 OT win over the Magic.

Nov. 1 vs. Oklahoma City: Posted 24 points, 12 rebounds and two steals in a 100-81 victory over the Thunder.

Nov. 3 @ New York: Recorded 34 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in 109-100 road win against the Knicks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Orlando’s Arron Afflalo, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis,  Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Indiana’s Paul George, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, and the L.A. Clippers Chris Paul.