Boris Diaw of the Phoenix Suns was named the winner of the 2005-06 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

Diaw received a total of 489 points, including 80 first-place votes, from a panel of 126 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. New Orleans/Oklahoma City’s David West finished second with 283 points (22 first-place votes) followed by New Jersey’s Nenad Krstic with 65 points (four 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.

After averaging 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and .435 shooting for the Atlanta Hawks in his first two NBA seasons, Diaw averaged career highs of 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and .526 shooting for the Suns this year. In 142 games with the Hawks, he scored in double figures 14 times, but hit that mark 61 times in 2005-06. Diaw dished out five or more assists in 62 contests and grabbed five or more rebounds in 61 during this season.

Projected as a reserve entering training camp, the 6-8 Diaw emerged as a force on the Suns frontline, starting at both center and power forward this season. He joins LeBron James and Jason Kidd as they only players to average at least six rebounds and six assists this season.

Diaw recorded four triple-doubles this season, including consecutive triple-doubles at Golden State on April 14 and at the Los Angeles Lakers on April 16, becoming only the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish that feat (Alvan Adams, Charles Barkley, Kidd).

A first-round selection (21^st overall) in the 2003 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Diaw was traded to Phoenix in August 2005 in exchange for Joe Johnson and two future first round draft picks.

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