After being named the NBA's Most Improved Player for the 2017-18 season at the NBA Awards Show in Los Angeles on Monday night, Pacers guard Victor Oladipo held a press conference on Wednesday morning, June 27 at 11:00 AM ET at the St. Vincent Center.
The press conference was streamed live on Pacers.com, the Pacers Facebook page, and in the Pacers mobile app.
"It's been a great year, but I'm still hungry," Oladipo said on Wednesday. "I think I'm more hungry now than I was when I first got here. I'm just humbled to be a Pacers, humbled to be a part of this organization and this program.
"I've come a long way. It's amazing how things changed in a year and I'm nothing short of blessed.
Oladipo, who previously this postseason had been named Third Team, All-NBA, and First Team, All-Defensive, becomes the fifth Pacers' player to win Most Improved, joining Jalen Rose (1999-00), Jermaine O'Neal (2001-02), Danny Granger (2008-09) and Paul George (2012-13). Oladipo averaged 23.1 points per game (ninth in the NBA), 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and led the NBA in steals at 2.4 per game. He set career highs in nearly every statistical category and improved his scoring total by 63 percent from the 2016-17 season. He was also named an All-Star for the first time by Eastern Conference coaches in February.
"I would like to congratulate Victor on winning the Most Improved Player Award," Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said on Monday night. "It's an honor that is well-deserved and well-earned. The saying, 'hard work pays off' is epitomized by what Victor accomplished in winning this award. He set a tone for this team last summer that carried over into the regular season and this not only recognizes his personal achievement but what he did to help our team win."