On Tuesday, the NBA began to announce the first set of awards for the 2020-21 season with the voting results for the league’s Most Improved Player award.
With 98 first-place votes, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle earned the Most Improved Player award for the 2020-21 season. While leading the Knicks to the playoffs, Randle averaged a career-best 24.1 points on 45.6% shooting from the field with 10.2 rebounds and six assists per contest.
Via @NBAPR on Twitter:
In winning the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, @J30_RANDLE received 98 of 100 first-place votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ekh07sex7K
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 25, 2021
Following Randle, Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole earned one second-place vote for the award, finishing 12th overall in the standings.
After a rough start to his second season out of Michigan that resulted in a stint in the G League bubble, the 2019 first-round pick exploded during Golden State’s run to the play-in tournament.
Following his return from the G League bubble, Poole averaged 14.7 points on 43.3% shooting from the field and 35.4% shooting from long distance in 23.5 minutes off the bench.
During that span, Poole tallied 20 or more points nine different times, including a career-high 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field in a spot start with Steph Curry out against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Along with a significant bump in production, Poole’s confidence and decision-making have taken a significant step forward from his rookie season. During crucial moments down the stretch, Steve Kerr relied on Poole in the closing lineup as a scorer alongside Curry in the backcourt.
Heading into his third season at 22-years-old, Poole will have the opportunity to play a key role in the second unit behind Curry and a healthy Klay Thompson.
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