Hedo Turkoglu Wins Most Improved Player Award
Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic is the winner of the 2007-08 NBA Most Improved Player Award presented by Kia Motors, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.
Turkoglu received a total of 380 points, including 61 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay finished second with 167 points (23 first-place votes) followed by LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers with 128 points (nine first-place votes). 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.
As part of its support of the Most Improved Player Award, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Turkoglu to a grassroots program of the Parramore Kidz Zone, an initiative which provides positive, preventative programs for local youth in Orlando. The Orlando Magic made a previous $250,000 pledge to this program. Kia Motors will present a Borrego to the charity of choice of each of the four year-end award winners in 2008 as part of the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.”
The eight-year NBA veteran started every game for the Magic and averaged career highs in scoring (19.5 ppg). – nearly eight points above his career average (11.7 ppg) -- rebounding (5.7 rpg) and assists (5.0 apg). Turkoglu shot .400 from three-point range and .829 from the free throw line. The 6-10 forward earned two Eastern Conference Player of the Week nods (Jan. 27 and Feb. 3), and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in April. Last season, Turkoglu averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
The 2007-08 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award presented by Kia Motors is part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.” The awards, which are part of a multi-year marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, also include the Most Valuable Player, Sixth Man Award, and Defensive Player. The series also includes the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Kia Motors.
Attached are the 2007-08 voting results and the all-time NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award presented by Kia Motors winners:
2007-08 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS VOTING RESULTS
Player Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts
Hedo Turkoglu Orlando 61 22 9 380
Rudy Gay Memphis 23 14 10 167
LaMarcus Aldridge Portland 9 22 17 128
Al Jefferson Minnesota 6 16 22 100
Rajon Rondo Boston 6 10 17 77
Mike Dunleavy Indiana 3 9 9 51
Jose Calderon Toronto 2 10 5 45
Chris Paul New Orleans 5 4 4 41
Beno Udrih Sacramento 1 2 6 17
David West New Orleans 1 2 4 15
Ronnie Brewer Utah 1 2 1 12
Andrew Bynum L.A. Lakers 1 1 3 11
Chris Kaman L.A. Clippers 1 1 1 9
Louis Williams Philadelphia 1 -- 3 8
Monta Ellis Golden State 1 -- 4 7
Andrew Bogut Milwaukee -- 2 1 7
Rafer Alston Houston 1 -- 1 6
LeBron James Cleveland 1 -- -- 5
Andre Iguodala Philadelphia 1 -- -- 5
Travis Outlaw Portland 1 -- -- 5
Brandon Bass Dallas -- 1 1 4
Deron Williams Utah -- 1 1 4
Linas Kleiza Denver -- 1 -- 3
Jason Maxiell Detroit -- 1 -- 3
Tyson Chandler New Orleans -- 1 -- 3
Dwight Howard Orlando -- 1 -- 3
Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix -- 1 -- 3
Brandon Roy Portland -- -- 2 2
JR Smith Denver -- -- 1 1
Danny Granger Indiana -- -- 2 2
Roger Mason Jr. Washington -- -- 1 1
ALL-TIME NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS
1985-86 Alvin Robertson, San Antonio
1986-87 Dale Ellis, Seattle
1987-88 Kevin Duckworth, Portland
1988-89 Kevin Johnson, Phoenix
1989-90 Rony Seikaly, Miami
1990-91 Scott Skiles, Orlando
1991-92 Pervis Ellison, Washington
1992-93 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver
1993-94 Don MacLean, Washington
1994-95 Dana Barros, Philadelphia
1995-96 Gheorghe Muresan, Washington
1996-97 Isaac Austin, Miami
1997-98 Alan Henderson, Atlanta
1998-99 Darrell Armstrong, Orlando
1999-00 Jalen Rose, Indiana
2000-01 Tracy McGrady, Orlando
2001-02 Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana
2002-03 Gilbert Arenas, Golden State
2003-04 Zach Randolph, Portland
2004-05 Bobby Simmons, L.A. Clippers
2005-06 Boris Diaw, Phoenix
2006-07 Monta Ellis, Golden State
2007-08 Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando
See more at www.nba.com
