Indiana Pacers' Paul George won the 2012-13 NBA Most Improved Player award on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
"I think I can play at an MVP level," George told reporters on Monday. "I think that's very much within reach. For me, it's all about being consistent and having that aggressive mindset."
George, only 22-years-old, received 52 first-place votes for the award; New Orleans Hornets' Greivis Vasquez came in second with 13 first-place votes.
In his first two years in the league, the forward averaged 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. This season, George's numbers improved to 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. His drastic improvement across the board earned him his first NBA All-Star appearance this year, and helped Indiana win their division for the first time in nine years.
"With the physical talent he has, with the drive he has, there's no ceiling for him," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "... He's a rare breed with his purity for the game and his willingness to play team basketball at both ends of the court and his drive to get better."
George used the 2012 Conference semifinals loss to the Miami Heat as motivation to improve his game. The 10th overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft went into the summer with a steely resolve to improve all facets of his game.
He worked out during the summer in Las Vegas where the U.S. Olympic team trained, allowing him to watch and learn from the best of the NBA, including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
George's improved play has already carried into the 2013 NBA playoffs. In Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks, the forward recorded a triple-double - 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists - to lead the Pacers to a 107-90 victory.
Despite the awards and improved numbers, George knows his season will not be complete without an NBA title.
Indiana will host the Hawks on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV.
