Armstrong Wins Most Improved
Guard Darrell Armstrong of the Orlando Magic won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award on Thursday, making him the first to win both that honor and the Sixth Man Award.
Armstrong received 54 of a possible 118 votes from a national panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
Eighteen players received votes. Eric Snow of Philadelphia was second with 15 votes, and Gary Trent of Dallas was third with 14 votes.
Armstrong averaged career highs of 13.8 points, 6.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.16 steals in 30 minutes a game while coming off the bench in 35 of 50 games.
He improved on his career averages in scoring by 6.9 points, in assists by 3.5 assists, in rebounds by 1.8 and in steals by 1.2.
The Most Improved Player Award has been given since the 1985-86 season. The Sixth Man Award began in the 1983-84 season.
A native of Gastonia, N.C., Armstrong was not drafted in 1991 after completing his college career at Fayetteville State. He played in the Global Basketball Association, the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and in Cyprus and Spain before signing with the Magic on April 8, 1995.
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