Portland Trailblazers guard C.J. McCollum was named the 2015-16 KIA NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced on Friday morning. He joins Zach Randolph (2003-04) and Kevin Duckworth (1987-88) as the only Blazers to earn the award.
NBA’s official twitter handle broke the news:
Balloting results:
From a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters, McCollum received 559 total points (101 first place votes). He was followed by Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker who totalled 166 points (7 first place votes). Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo rounded up the top 3 with his 99 points (4 first place votes). Reigning MVP Stephen Curry also received a considerable amoung of votes – 83 points (7 first place votes).
Here are the complete balloting results:
Well deserved award
With the Blazers losing four of their five starters in the summer, C.J. McCollum was asked to step up and step up he did. Drafted 10th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, McCollum tripled his scoring average from last season when his minutes average doubled. The increase in his scoring average of 14 points (minimum 40 games each season) is the largest since Tony Campbell improved by 17 points from 1988-89 (6.2) to 1989-90 (23.2).
In the 2015-16 regular season, McCollum totalled 1666 points as compared to just 424 in the 2014-15 campaign. He registered career highs in shooting percentages – 44.8% from the field, 41.7% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the charity stripe. He scored in double figures in 79 of the 80 games (18 times last season) he played, registered at least 20 points in 40 games (only thrice in 2014-15) and also notched up eight 30 point games.
His consistent and reliable scoring created a one-two punch with Damian Lillard in the back court that helped Portland surprise everybody and make the Playoffs for the third consecutive season.The guard duo of Lillard and McCollum is the third leading duo in the league (45.9 ppg).
McCollum announced himself to the biggest stage of them all by scoring 28 points in the first half of the first game of the 2015-16 regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans:
McCollum is currently gearing up to play Game 3 at Moda Center in Portland against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers won both of the first two games and lead the series 2-0. McCollum so far averages 12.5 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds on 32% shooting from the field.
Guess the Lakers players!
