Blazers' C.J. McCollum named NBA's Most Improved Player
The NBA rolled out another of its postseason awards Friday when it announced that Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum has been named its Most Improved Player.
McCollum received 101 first-place votes and 559 total points, easily outpacing Hornets guard Kemba Walker, who finished second overall with just seven first-place votes and 166 total points.
Blazers guard CJ McCollum wins NBA Most Improved Player award. Results below: pic.twitter.com/YmCLNRP9JO
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) April 22, 2016
McCollum, 24, blossomed in his third NBA season, as he became a starter for the first time. After averaging 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 2014-15, he jumped up to 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 2015-16.
The Blazers were expected to experience a significant drop-off after losing big man LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs in free agency last summer, but they won 44 games and made it to the playoffs largely because of McCollum’s improvement. Portland trails the Clippers, 2-0, in a first-round series and plays again Saturday night.
