Paul George to win Most Improved Player award

The Indiana Pacers are set to announce on Monday that Paul George (206 cm, Fresno State’10) has won the Most Improved Player award. It is an honor that the 22-year-old is most deserving to receive after an amazing breakout season.

The world already caught glimpses of what the young Fresno State grad was capable of during his sophomore season in 2011-12. In 66 games George averaged 12.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, and 1.4 3ppg.

This season, after Pacers’ star Danny Granger was sidelined for majority of the season due to injury, Paul George not only stepped up his game; he took it to another level. He willingly bore the mantle to be instrumental in carrying the Pacers through an impressive regular season run, finishing third overall in the Eastern Conference. George elevated his game this season by averaging 5.3 more points per game, 2.0 more rebounds, 1.4 more assists per game, and upping his three-point shooting rate to 2.2 treys per game.

There’s no doubt about it. George is now the new face of the franchise and with a triple-double performance in a Game 1 victory versus the Atlanta Hawks to kick off the post-season, it looks like George is already comfortably on his way to true basketball stardom.