Houston's star center Yao Ming of China earned Player of the Week honors in the National Basketball Association Western Conference, while LeBron James continued his hold on the Eastern Conference award.

Yao averaged 33.3 points on 62.5 percent shooting and 12.3 rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 2-1 mark in the week.

He led the Rockets in points and rebounds in all three contests and tied his season high with 38 points in a 105-103 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday.

All-Star forward James earned the Eastern Conference honor for a record third straight week, after averaging a league-best 42.7 points on 62.5 percent shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists while leading the Cavaliers to a 3-0 record.

The three-week run also enabled James to win the Player of the Month award.

On Saturday, James posted his sixth triple-double of the season with 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 106-99 triumph over the Miami Heat.

James won the weekly award for the fifth time this season and eighth of his career. No other player had won the award three straight weeks since its inception during the 1979-80 campaign.

(Agencies via China Daily April 4, 2006)