NEW YORK, USA – Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Friday, April 22, after a season in which he more than tripled his scoring average.
McCollum joins Kevin Duckworth (1987-88) and Zach Randolph (2003-04) as the only Trail Blazers to earn the award, which is designed to honor an up-and-coming player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.
McCollum received 101 first-place votes and 559 total points from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.
Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker with 7 first-place votes and 166 points and Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (four first-place votes, 99 points) finished second and third, respectively.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors received 7 first-place votes, landing him in fourth with 83 points.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Curry is the first reigning MVP to finish in the top 10 in voting for the next season's most improved award.
McCollum, in his third season since he was taken 10th overall in the 2013 draft, averaged a career-high 20.8 points in the regular season – up from 6.8 in the previous campaign.
He notched career highs in field-goal percentage (44.8), 3-point field-goal percentage (41.7), assists (4.3) and rebounds (3.2) as the Trail Blazers reached the playoffs for the third straight year. – Rappler.com