The NBA has crowned its first Players of the Week for the 2026-27 season. Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ty Jerome wins the award in the Western Conference and Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Tyrese Maxey takes the Eastern Conference honor for their performances between October 20-25.
Ty Jerome, the league's leading scorer
Few expected Ty Jerome to lead the scoring charts, but the point guard has started the season at a level he has never reached before. He averaged 34.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 31.7 minutes, shooting 56.3% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range, leading the Grizzlies to three straight wins, two of them on the road in San Francisco and Sacramento.
His statement came with 45 points in his home debut against the Jazz, his career-high. He closed out the week on Sunday with 31 points in Sacramento without missing any of his 14 free throws. It's a massive leap for a player who last season, his first in Memphis, was only able to play in 15 games.
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Maxey, the 76ers' steady hand
In the East, Tyrese Maxey has been the backbone of the 76ers in a week of four games and three victories. He averaged 28.8 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2 steals in nearly 38 minutes, and didn't dip below 26 points in any game.
His most memorable performance wasn't just about scoring. In the home opener against the Cavaliers, his full-court pressure on James Harden was key to the 76ers' comeback from a 29-point deficit. "He completely changed the game," acknowledged head coach Nick Nurse. It's the sixth weekly award of Maxey's career, after he averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists last season.
Among the nominees were Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Amen Thompson in the West, and Cade Cunningham, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in the East.