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Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Wednesday, topping fellow finalists Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons. Daniels is the second Hawks player to win the award, joining Alan Henderson in 1997-98. He also was runner-up in the Defensive Player of the Year voting to Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley last week.
Daniels' first season in Atlanta was nothing like either of his first two NBA seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans . Editor's Picks 'Confident' Castle gives Spurs back-to-back ROYs Michael C. Wright Draymond finishes first for NBA's Hustle Award Tim Bontemps Are these for real? Verdicts on Wolves, Celtics and 3 other top playoff trends Kevin Pelton Daniels averaged a career-high 14.
1 points per game, boosting his scoring average by 8.3, while also averaging career highs in rebounds (5.9) and assists (4.
4). His field goal percentage also went from 43.5% in his first two seasons to 49.
3% this year. The Hawks made him a full-time starter, something Daniels hadn't been with the Pelicans. Daniels led the league in steals with 3.
0 per game, the highest average in a season since Alvin Robertson in 1990-91, and his 229 total steals were the most in a season since Gary Payton had 231 in 1995-96; Payton won the Defensive Player of the Year award that season. The most improved player award, like several other NBA honors, was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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