The Houston Rockets have been blazing a trail in the Western Conference and so far, are looking like a sure contender for the Western Conference finals.
Part of the reason the team is doing so well is its performance in the paint, which has in most games been led by Congolese/Angolan-Swiss center Clint Capela. He is a great rebounder and rim protector and his recent performance has seen him receive our nod for this week’s African Player of the Week.
The Big man in Houston is averaging a double-double this season and is leading the Rockets in rebounds and blocks per game. His numbers include 14.5 rebounds, 11 rebounds, one assist and 1.8 blocks per game.
Capela is shooting 65.7 percent from the field and 59 percent from the charity stripe. He started in both of the Rockets’ games over the past seven days, which his standout performance coming in Houston’s 120-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, in which he had a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double.
He might have not made the cut for the All-Star game, but with his current trajectory, he could clinch a spot in future events.
Our first honourable mention for this week goes to another young African talent that continues to perform well. As the leader at the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo remains as efficient as they come.
The Nigerian-Greek forward is also averaging a double-double and leading the Bucks in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes per game with an average of 37.2.
He is averaging 27.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, while shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from three-point range and 75.6 percent from the free throw line.
Antetokounmpo appeared in the All-Star game and also started in both of Milwaukee’s two games over the past week and scored in double digits in all of them. His most notable performance was in the Bucks’ 122-119 victory over the Toronto Raptors in which he had a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Our second mention a Cameroonian center, who made his All-Star Game debut earlier this month: Joel Embiid. The seven-footer from Yaounde is also no stranger to putting up double-doubles and leads the Philadelphia 76ers in points, rebounds and blocks per game.
His numbers include 23.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 31 percent from behind the arc and 78 percent from the free throw line.
The past seven days saw him appear in three games for the Sixers as well as play in his debut All-Star Game. His top performance came in the 76ers’ 116-115 beating of the Chicago Bulls in which he put up a 30-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Leave a comment