Zhou was honoured among domestic players with an average of 22.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 blocks, leading Xinjiang to the league's second best 10-2 record.

The best foreign player award belonged to Franklin, who averaged 31.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 10 assists and 2.1 steals, winning eight of his 10 appearances for Shanxi, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I'm excited about winning the Player of the Month, but I'm more excited about our team playing well right now. We've got to be a team taking one game at a time and staying together. We are nobody from nowhere. Just stay together," Franklin said in a video posted by the Shanxi club on social platform.

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