NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Just missing his first triple-double in an inspiring return from a spinal injury, guard T.J. Ford of the Milwaukee Bucks was named as the NBA's Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

Ford, who missed the entire 2004-05 season due to a spinal cord bruise, averaged 16.7 points, 10.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds in three games as the Bucks began 3-0 for the first time since 2001-02.

The 22-year-old Ford began his stellar week with a 16-point, 14-assist performance with nine rebounds in a 117-108 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Opening Night on Tuesday.

After scoring 21 points in a 110-96 win at New Jersey on Wednesday, Ford registered 13 points and 11 assists as the Bucks captured their home opener against the Miami Heat, 105-100, on Saturday.

Guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was named as the Western Conference's Player of the Week after averaging a league-leading 36.3 points in a 2-1 start.

Bryant had 33 points, including the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left in overtime, in a 99-97 season-opening victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. The 27-year-old added a season-high 39 points in a 122-112 loss to Phoenix on Thursday.

Reunited with coach Phil Jackson after a year off, Bryant also grabbed 6.7 rebounds and handed out 4.7 assists.

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