Paul George Named Most Improved Player (UPDATE)


UPDATE: Paul George’s win of the MIP award was confirmed this morning. Here’s how the voting broke down, per the NBA: “George received 311 of a possible 1,080 points, including 52 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Greivis Vasquez of the New Orleans (146 points, 13 first-place votes) and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Larry Sanders (141 points, 10 first-place votes) finished second and third, respectively. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received. George, who entered the 2012-13 campaign with career averages of 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals, established career highs in each of those statistics — a team-high 17.4 points, along with 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals. George was the only player in the league to record at least 140 steals (143) and 50 blocks (51). He had nineteen games with at least three steals, and 29 games with at least one steal and one block. According to NBA.com/Stats, in the 81 games in which George appeared, the Pacers had a +5.9 score differential when he was on the court compared with -2.0 score differential when he was on the bench.”

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Paul George’s breakout season season will culminate in a Most Improved Player award, according to multiple reports. Per the Indy Star: “First came the All-Star Game appearance, and now comes the Most Improved Player award for Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George.The Pacers have called a 10 a.m. news conference on Tuesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where George will be named the award winner, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The news conference is open to the public inside the entry pavilion at the fieldhouse. George will join Jalen Rose (2000), Jermaine O’Neal (2002) and Granger as Pacers to win the award. […] George (17.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.1 apg) thrived in Danny Granger’s absence this season, increasing his scoring average by more than five points a game, his rebounding by two a game and assist by almost two a game.”