Hawks guard Dyson Daniels finished comfortably ahead of fellow finalists Ivica Zubac and Cade Cunningham in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
in the voting, earning 44 first-place votes and 332 total points. Zubac finished second with 23 first-place votes and 186 points, while Cunningham placed third with 15 first-place votes and 122 total points.
last week, emerged as a productive starter at shooting guard for the Hawks after arriving in Atlanta in the trade that sent high-scoring guard He led the NBA with 229 steals, the most in a season since Gary Payton had 231 in 1995-96, and his league-best 3.0 steals per game was the highest average in a season since Alvin Robertson in 1990-91. Daniels averaged a career-high 14.1 points per game, boosting his scoring average by 8.3, while also averaging career highs in rebounds and assists . 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 became only the fifth player since 1973-74 to average at least 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson and Robertson. Hawks coach Quin Snyder lobbied for Daniels to be recognized as the league's top defensive player but also took note of the young guard's overall gains. "I think his ability to be as effective as he is on the ball, you see that and feel that," Snyder said."I think also his ability to drive the ball. So to me, those two things are his aggressiveness. And in order to be aggressive, you have to be fearless. So I think maybe the biggest thing that I wanted to try to communicate to Dyson to the extent we can instill something in someone is don't be afraid to make a mistake." The award 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.
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