The 6-foot-8 Diaw posted career highs of 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 this past season in his first year with the Suns. Those numbers were well above his two-year career statistics with the Atlanta Hawks of 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Diaw, 24, joined Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd as the only NBA players to average six rebounds and six assists per game in 2005-06.
"I've been improving in a lot of different areas," Diaw said.
Boris Diaw, left, was named the NBA's most improved player for 2005-06. (Paul Connors/Associated Press)
"That's why I'm happy to get this award right now because the only thing that scares me in basketball is to stop improving, stop getting better. I always want to get better. Because I'm a versatile player, I have to work on all parts of my game."
A first-round pick by the Hawks in 2003, Diaw joined the Suns last off-season as part of the deal that sent Joe Johnson to Atlanta.
Diaw was seen more as a trade toss-in, since the Suns also received two future first-round draft picks in the swap. But the French native was forced to log big-time minutes when all-star forward/centre Amare Stoudamire missed all but three games this season due to a knee injury.
Proud of his play-making
The versatile former French League player spent time at guard, forward and centre for the Suns this season.
"My pride is my creativity, to be able to make plays for my teammates," Diaw said. "That's why I've been fitting pretty well in this system because that's what we try to do. We've got a bunch of shooters, and I just try to set them up."
Diaw was far and away the top choice for the annual award picked by a panel of North American sportswriters and broadcasters. He earned 80 of a possible 124 first-place votes for a total of 489 points.
David West of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets finished second in the balloting with 22 first-place votes and 283 points.
Former point guard Kevin Johnson was the last Suns player to win the most improved player award, earning the honour in 1988-89.
with files from Sports Network and the Associated Press
