Multiple Sacramento Kings players receive votes for NBA’s Most Improved Player award
Apr 25, 2023, 10:58 AM
De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates with Malik Monk #0 after making a three-point shot at the end of the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Golden 1 Center on March 13, 2023 in Sacramento, California.
On Monday, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen was named the NBA’s Kia NBA Most Improved Player. But when the voting results were released, a couple of Sacramento Kings players showed up on the list.
According to the NBA, Markkanen received 69 of the 100 first-place votes, appearing on every ballot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received 24 first-place votes for second place and, Jalen Brunson got four first-place votes to finish third.
In his first year with the Utah Jazz, Markkanen recorded career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists and free throw attempts. He was also named an NBA All-Star for the first time as he led the Jazz in scoring, rebounding and free-throw attempts.
Further down the list, Sacramento Kings guards De’Aaron Fox received one vote for second place and Malik Monk received one vote for third place. The former Kentucky backcourt duo finished ninth and 13th, respectively. Former Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton also received multiple votes.
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is the recipient of the George Mikan Trophy as the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player.
Full voting results and award history: https://t.co/Su6kMftXQC pic.twitter.com/AWvB9MODlZ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2023
This wasn’t the first ballot both Monk and Fox appeared on as the NBA announces its end-of-year awards. Monk finished fifth in the NBA’s 6th Many of the Year award race. Fox was named the league’s inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award winner.
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