Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic named NBA’s Most Improved Player
Apr 23, 2014, 3:32 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
The Phoenix Suns’ surprising 2013-14 season didn’t end in a playoff appearance, but for Goran Dragic, it ended with some accolades from the NBA.
Dragic won the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, given annually to the player who has made a significant improvement from the previous season.
The 27-year-old Slovenian point guard averaged a career-high 20.3 points per game, up from his 2012-13 average of 14.7.
Dragic also averaged 5.9 assists per game and established new career highs in field goal percentage (.505) and three-point percentage (.408) for the Suns, who improved their win total from 25 to 48 this season.
In winning the award, Dragic received 408 of a possible 1,134 points, including 65 of 126 first place votes. Lance Stephenson of Indiana and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis finished second and third, respectively.
Suns guard Gerald Green finished fourth in the voting, while forward Markieff Morris finished tied for tenth.
Dragic is the third Suns player to win the award, joining Kevin Johnson (1988-89) and Boris Diaw (2005-06).
| Player, Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goran Dragic, Suns | 65 | 28 | 8 | 408 |
| Lance Stephenson, Pacers | 13 | 24 | 21 | 158 |
| Anthony Davis, Pelicans | 16 | 21 | 12 | 155 |
| Gerald Green, Suns | 16 | 7 | 16 | 117 |
| DeAndre Jordan, Clippers | 4 | 13 | 7 | 66 |
| Kyle Lowery, Raptors | 2 | 8 | 9 | 43 |
| Blake Griffin, Clippers | 6 | 1 | 6 | 39 |
| DeMar DeRozan, Raptors | 1 | 4 | 11 | 28 |
| Patty Mills, Spurs | 0 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
| Markieff Morris, Suns | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Isaiah Thomas, Kings | 0 | 3 | 4 | 13 |
| Shaun Livingston, Nets | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| D.J. Augustin, Bulls | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| Reggie Jackson, Thunder | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Robin Lopez, Trail Blazers | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Klay Thompson, Warriors | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| DeMarcus Cousins, Kings | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Kevin Durant, Thunder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Al Jefferson, Bobcats | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Bradley Beal, Wizards | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Mike Conley, Grizzlies | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Andre Drummond, Pistons | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Taj Gibson, Bulls | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| LeBron James, Heat | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Terrence Jones, Rockets | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Jodie Meeks, LA Lakers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Alec Burks, Jazz | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Paul Millsap, Hawks | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chandler Parsons, Rockets | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| John Wall, Wizards | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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