Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler was announced Thursday as the winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award, capping off a season in which he reached career highs in nearly every statistical category.
Butler earned 92 out of a possible 130 first-place votes to beat out the Warriors' Draymond Green for the honor. Jazz center Rudy Gobert was third and Heat big man Hassan Whiteside finished fourth.
Butler averaged 13.1 points in 2013-14, but this season raised his scoring average to 20.0 points per game, helping Chicago weather the absence of Derrick Rose for a large portion of the season. He also set career highs in assists, rebounds and steals. His shooting average also improved from 39.7 percent last season to 46.2 percent this season.
He will be awarded the trophy before Game 3 of the Bulls' playoff series with the Cavaliers on Friday. Butler is the first player in Chicago franchise history to win Most Improved.
