PHOENIX -- Boris Diaw went from being a throw-in as part of
the Joe Johnson trade to winner of the NBA's most improved player
award.
The Phoenix Suns' versatile Frenchman was a landslide choice
with 80 first-place votes in balloting by 124 sports writers and
sportscasters. He received 489 overall points, compared with 22
first-place votes and 283 points for runner-up David West of New
Orleans.
With the Suns down 3-1 in their best-of-seven playoff series
against the Los Angeles Lakers, and coming off a 99-98 overtime
loss on Sunday, Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni joked that "at least
we get to do something fun today" as he presented the award at a
news conference Monday.
"I always say it's a team sport, not an individual sport,"
Diaw said. "You try to get better, not only for yourself, but the
principal goal is to get better to be able to help your team. I'm
really happy because that's what I found when I came here."
Johnson, an important part of the Suns' 62-win team in the
2004-05 season, asked to be traded to Atlanta, and the Suns
complied. They received Diaw and two future first-round draft
picks.
The 6-foot-8 Diaw, a 2003 first-round draft pick (21st overall),
averaged 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists while shooting 44
percent in 66 games for the Hawks last season.
Inserted into the front line for the small, fast-paced Suns, and
improving his mid-range jumper in the process, Diaw averaged 13.3
points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists this season, shooting 53
percent. He played in 81 games, 70 as a starter.
"I've been improving in a lot of different areas," Diaw said.
"That's why I'm happy to get this award right now because the only
thing that scares me in basketball is to stop improving, stop
getting better. I always want to get better. Because I'm a
versatile player, I have to work on all parts of my game."
He joined LeBron James and Jason Kidd as the only players to
average at least six rebounds and six assists per game this season.
Diaw had four triple-doubles, including consecutive ones on April
14 and 16.
"My pride is my creativity, to be able to make plays for my
teammates," Diaw said. "That's why I've been fitting pretty well
in this system because that's what we try to do. We've got a bunch
of shooters, and I just try to set them up."
D'Antoni said Diaw still has much room for improvement,
especially on his jump shot. He said Diaw can be a devastating
player if he develops a consistent 3-point shot. Other than that,
all the natural ability is there, the coach said.
"The guy can become a great shooter," D'Antoni said. "He has
a nice technique. The rest of it, you know what, his instincts are
unbelievable. Other than just experience and just trusting himself,
he doesn't need to learn anything. ... One of the reasons he got
the most improved is he played. His skills were seen this year,
let's put it that way."