NBA Most Improved Player 2014: Goran Dragic Wins Award For Leading The Suns' Incredible Season! Will Phoenix Become A Playoff Team Next Season?

The NBA Most Improved Player Award was usually dreaded because it meant that the player had a bad season. However, last year's winner Paul George set a precedent of success.

This year, there were a lot of possible candidates. Goran Dragic is not at all a bad player, but the situation at Phoenix placed him in an opportunity to showcase his talent. He totally took advantage. IN nba.com's MVP ladder, Dragic was actually tenth, and the only point guard aside from Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

ESPN broke down the official voting:

"Dragic received 408 of a possible 1,134 points, including 65 first-place votes, from a panel of 126 sports writers and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers (158 points, 13 first-place votes) and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (155 points, 16 first-place votes) finished second and third, respectively."

Stephenson was a dark horse for the award, but his teammate George won it last year. The team has vastly improved and were at the top of the league early in the season. The Indiana Pacers' slump at the end of regular season undoubtedly affected his chances.

But Dragic, nicknamed "The Dragon" despite his lack of Oriental origin, deserved the award more than anyone, and there won't be any debate here when all is said and done. His stats will support his case:

"Dragic, who entered the season with a career scoring average of 9.5 points a game, put up a career-best 20.3 a game to go along with averages of 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds. He shot just over 50 percent from the field."

The Phoenix Suns are now the most promising team in the NBA. They can shore up their roster with draft picks and they have salary cap space to attract a superstar. Playing with Goran Dragic is definitely an exciting proposition and coach Jeff Hornacek was a worthy runner up to Gregg Popovich for Coach of the year.