Last year's league MVP LeBron James has endorsed Derrick Rose as his choice for this year's MVP.

"What he's done for that team, with all the injuries they have and them being first in the Eastern Conference. They're playing some really good basketball," James said. "He's playing some unbelievable basketball."

James doesn't think the Heat has a serious candidate for MVP because he and Dwyane Wade have canceled each other out.

Dirk Nowitzki was James' choice until the Dallas power forward was injured.

"You've got some guys here that have done their job also," James said. "But Derrick Rose definitely has gotten a lot of the exposure and a lot of the media attention because of the work he's done. He's playing some unbelievable basketball."

The Miami Heat's LeBron James and the Houston Rockets' Kyle Lowry today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 14, through Sunday, March 20.

James averaged a league-high 29.0 points on .547 shooting to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as the Heat went 3-1. On March 18, James scored a game-high 43 points at Atlanta, including 23 in the third quarter, shooting 16-for-21 from the field overall. This is fifth time James has received Player of the Week honors this season.

Lowry led the Rockets to a 4-0 week, averaging 19.3 points, 7.5 assists and 7.3 rebounds to help keep Houston in the hunt for a playoff berth. He has recorded double-figure scoring efforts in a career-high 12 consecutive games. On March 20, Lowry tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the fourth Rockets player since 2002-03 to record a triple-double.

The "MVP" chants occur in every arena now, including the Prudential Center as the Bulls beat the Nets 84-73. If they actually become a reality, Derrick Rose will supplant Wes Unseld as the youngest MVP in NBA history.

All along, Rose has downplayed talk of the award, even shrugging off Jordan's endorsement. Rose said he's focused on winning and growing as a leader.

"I feel more comfortable," Rose said. "I'm able to talk to my guys no matter what it's about. If it's on the court, they know if I yell at them it's nothing serious. We're just trying to win. I'm fortunate to have this bunch of guys who don't complain about anything. They just want to hoop."

Dwyane Wade and Tony Parker have been named the NBA's Players of the Week.

This is the third time Wade has won the award this season.

The Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, Mar. 6.

Pierce led Boston to a 4-0 week, averaging 21.8 points on .587 shooting (27-for-46) to go along with 8.0 rebounds. On March 4 vs. Golden State, Pierce tallied 27 points and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line to secure a 107-103 victory. This is the second time in the 2010-11 season that Pierce has garnered Player of the Week honors.

Westbrook led the Western Conference in scoring with 27.0 ppg, and his average of 9.7 assists ranked third in the conference, while his 3.0 steals ranked second. By scoring 20-plus points in all three games, including one 30-plus effort, the Thunder went 3-0 on the week. On March 4, Westbrook recorded a double-double with 32 points and 11 assists to help Oklahoma City knock off Phoenix 122-118 in overtime. This marks the fifth time this season Westbrook has garnered Player of the Week honors.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Ray Allen, Memphis’ Zach Randolph, New Jersey’s Kris Humpies and Brook Lopez, Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Utah’s Al Jefferson.

Portland Trail Blazers forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Month for February. Dwight Howard received the award for the Eastern Conference.

Aldridge becomes the third player in franchise history to win the award and first since Clyde Drexler claimed the honor in November of 1991. Kelvin Ransey won the award in March of 1981.

"It's an honor to be named player of the month, something I will always remember," said Aldridge. "But I wouldn't have won it without my teammates and coaches, and I want to thank them as we work to build on last month's success and focus on making a playoff run."

John Wall and Blake Griffin have won the NBA's Rookie of the Month award for the month of February.

Wall and Griffin also won the honor in January.

Wall averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in February, with a FIC40 of 13.2.

Griffin scored 23.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, with a FIC40 of 16.6. Griffin had a FIC40 of 20.4 in December and 20.7 in January.