NBA NEWS - ORLANDO’S HEDO TURKOGLU WINS 2007-08 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD - April 2008

Hedo Toukolu NBA Eastern Player of the Month - NBA photo

Turkoglu received a total of 380 points, including 61 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

NEW YORK,, NY USA - Wednesday April 30, 2008

The Eight-year NBA veteran TURKOGLU is The NBA's Best 6 th Man

Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic is the winner of the 2007-08 NBA Most Improved Player Award presented by Kia Motors, the NBA announced. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

Turkoglu received a total of 380 points, including 61 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay finished second with 167 points (23 first-place votes) followed by LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers with 128 points (nine 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.

As part of its support of the Most Improved Player Award, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Turkoglu to a grassroots program of the Parramore Kidz Zone, an initiative which provides positive, preventative programs for local youth in Orlando. The Orlando Magic made a previous $250,000 pledge to this program. Kia Motors will present a Borrego to the charity of choice of each of the four year-end award winners in 2008 as part of the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.”

The eight-year NBA veteran started every game for the Magic and averaged career highs in scoring (19.5 ppg). – nearly eight points above his career average (11.7 ppg) -- rebounding (5.7 rpg) and assists (5.0 apg). Turkoglu shot .400 from three-point range and .829 from the free throw line. The 6-10 forward earned two Eastern Conference Player of the Week nods (Jan. 27 and Feb. 3), and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in April. Last season, Turkoglu averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

2007-08 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS

Player........................ Team........................ 1st....... 2nd....... 3rd........ Pts

Hedo Turkoglu.......... Orlando..................... 61........ 22........... 9....... 380

Rudy Gay ..................Memphis ...................23 .........14 .........10 ......167

LaMarcus Aldridge.... Portland ......................9 .........22 .........17 ......128

Al Jefferson ...............Minnesota ...................6 .........16 ..........22 ......100

Rajon Rondo ..............Boston .......................6 .........10 ..........17 ........77

Mike Dunleavy ...........Indiana .......................3 ...........9 .............9 ........51

Jose Calderon ............Toronto ......................2 .........10 .............5 ........45

Chris Paul ..................New Orleans ...............5 ..........4 .............4 ........41

ALL-TIME NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD WINNERS

Season ..............Winner.............................. Team

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

1999-00 ..............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

2004-05 ..............Bobby Simmons................... L.A. Clippers

2005-06 ..............Boris Diaw............................ Phoenix

2006-07 ..............Monta Ellis............................ Golden State

2007-08 ..............Hedo Turkoglu...................... Orlando

(NBA)