Denver Nuggets' Peyton Watson and Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes have been honored as the NBA Players of the Week for Week 12 of the 2025-26 season. Both players led their teams to a 3-1 record with standout performances. The announcement came on January 12, 2026.
The NBA recognized two rising stars for their contributions during Week 12. Peyton Watson of the Western Conference earned the honor for the Nuggets, averaging 24.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and shooting an impressive 70.0% from three-point range. His efforts helped Denver secure three wins in four games, making a strong statement as highlighted by the team's social media post: "Peyton Watson making a statement ‼️".
In the Eastern Conference, Scottie Barnes claimed the award for the Raptors, posting averages of 22.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. Toronto also went 3-1 on the week, with the team celebrating his All-Star caliber play: "Eastern Conference Player of the Week 😮💨 Yeah… that’s ALL-STAR behaviour".
While Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija was nominated for the Western Conference award after a strong showing—averaging 29.8 points on 48% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals—Watson edged him out. Avdija's highlight was a season-high 41 points in a 103-102 win over the Houston Rockets, but he suffered a back injury late in a loss to the New York Knicks. The Blazers plan to update his status ahead of their game against the Golden State Warriors.
Other Western nominees included Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Kawhi Leonard. In the East, nominees were Jalen Brunson, Joel Embiid, Darius Garland, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Andrew Nembhard.
This marks the latest in a season of accolades, following Week 11 winners Deni Avdija and Tyrese Maxey. The honors underscore the competitive balance across conferences as teams push forward in the 2025-26 campaign.
