Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic has been named the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
A panel of 126 sports writers and broadcasters from the United States and Canada voted on the award. Dragic got 408 out of a possible 1,134 points, and 65 first-place votes. Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers was second with 158 points and 13 first-place votes, and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans was third with 155 points and 16 first-place votes, according to the Associated Press.
Last year Dragic averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 assists per game, according to SB Nation. This season his performance has gone to another level. He averaged 20.3 points, tied for 17th in the NBA, 5.9 assists, which is a team –high and 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals, which are career highs. The area where Dragic improved the most was perimeter shooting. This season he shot 50.5 percent from the field, which is a career best, and shot 40.8 percent from three-point range, also a career best, according to USA Today.
Dragic is a 44.3 percent shooter from the field and a 35 percent shooter from three-point range for his career.
The Suns struggled last year as they went 25-57. This year the Suns improved big time under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, as they had a 48-37 record and just missed the playoffs. Dragic is the third Suns player to win the most improved player award. Kevin Johnson and Boris Diaw are the other two.