James, Paul named NBA Players of the Week

They rode a banana boat together in July, and in the first full week of 2016, LeBron James and Chris Paul have been named NBA Players of the Week.

James took Eastern Conference honors thanks to an average of 26 points, seven rebounds, and 7.8 assists in four undefeated contests for the Cleveland Cavaliers last week. He shot 57 percent in that time, with a near-39 percent clip from beyond the arc.

Paul's Los Angeles Clippers also had an undefeated week, with the point guard averaging 23.7 points, 12.3 assists, and two steals in three games. Paul dropped a season-high 19 dimes in LA's win over the Portland Trail Blazers last Wednesday. The Clippers have not lost a game since Dec. 21.

Other nominees for the nods were the Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets, and New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis.