A former second-round draft pick making the NBA-minimum $797,581, Paul Millsap capped a breakthrough season by finishing fourth in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player announced Tuesday.
Indiana's Danny Granger won the award, with New Jersey's Devin Harris second and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant third. Millsap received three first-place votes, 13 second-place votes and 23 third-place votes for a total of 77 points. Having started only three games in his first two seasons with the Jazz , Millsap took full advantage of his opportunity with Carlos Boozer lost to a knee injury.
Millsap recorded a streak of 19 consecutive double-doubles - - the longest such streak by a Jazz player since John Stockton had 25 straight double-doubles in 1990-91 - - and went on to average 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds for the season.
The 24-year-old, who has missed only six games in three seasons, will be a restricted free agent this summer, with the Jazz capable of matching any offer Millsap were to receive from another team.
rsiler@sltrib.com
