NEW YORK, April 22 – Zach Randolph of the Portland Trail Blazers was named the winner of the 2003-04 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.

Zach Randolph photo gallery

Randolph improved his scoring average by 11.7 points.
Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images
Randolph is only the second Trail Blazer to be honored with the Most Improved Player award since it was presented following the 1985-86 season, joining Kevin Duckworth who received the honor for the 1987-88 season.

Randolph received a total of 379 points, including 59 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Cleveland’s Carlos Boozer finished second with 166 points (12 first-place votes) and Memphis’ James Posey was third with 137 points (17 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.

In his third NBA season, Randolph averaged 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 37.9 minutes per game. He improved his scoring average from last season by 11.7 ppg (up from 8.4 ppg), his rebounding average by 6.0 rpg (up from 4.5 rpg), his assists average by 1.5 apg (up from 0.5 apg).

He started 80 of the 81 games in which he played for Portland this season, leading the Trail Blazers in scoring in 44 games and in rebounds 61 times. He also led the team in scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounds (10.5 rpg), while finishing second in minutes played.

A first-round selection in the 2001 NBA Draft (19th overall pick), Randolph turned in 43 double-double performances this season, ranking fifth in the league. He also posted a career-high 34 points versus Indiana on December 3, and tied his career-high in rebounds with 20 against the Phoenix Suns on December 18.

Attached are the voting results for this year’s NBA Most Improved Player Award and the all-time list of winners.

2003-04 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS

Player, Team1st2nd3rdPts
Zach Randolph, Portland592121379
Carlos Boozer, Cleveland123016166
James Posey, Memphis171410137
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah111210101
Michael Redd, Milwaukee9121495
Lamar Odom, Miami18231
Jamaal Magloire, New Orleans33221
Samuel Dalembert, Phi.32425
Joe Johnson, Phoenix14320
Brian Cardinal, Golden State13418
Rafer Alston, Miami21316
Mark Blount, Boston03110
Carlos Arroyo, Utah0158
Quentin Richardson, Clippers1108
Ronald Murray, Seattle0147
Ron Artest, Indiana1027
Yao Ming, Houston0147
Erick Dampier,Golden State0125
Richard Jefferson, New Jersey0044
Corey Maggette, L.A. Clippers0103
Mike Dunleavy, Golden State0103
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio0103
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit0022
Jason Williams, Memphis0011
Stephen Jackson, Atlanta0011
Pau Gasol, Memphis0011
Marcus Camby, Denver0011
Desmond Mason, Milwaukee0011
Kenny Thomas, Philadelphia0011
Raja Bell, Utah0011
Nenê, Denver0011

ALL-TIME NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD WINNERS

1985-86: Alvin Robertson, San Antonio
1986-87: Dale Ellis, Seattle
1987-88: Kevin Duckworth, Portland
1988-89: Kevin Johnson, Phoenix
1989-90: Rony Seikaly, Miami
1990-91: Scott Skiles, Orlando
1991-92: Pervis Ellison, Washington
1992-93: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver
1993-94: Don MacLean, Washington
1994-95: Dana Barros, Philadelphia
1995-96: Gheorghe Muresan, Washington
1996-97: Isaac Austin, Miami
1997-98: Alan Henderson, Atlanta
1998-99: Darrell Armstrong, Orlando
1999-2000: Jalen Rose, Indiana
2000-01: Tracy McGrady, Orlando
2001-02: Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana
2002-03: Gilbert Arenas, Golden State
2003-04: Zach Randolph, Portland