C.J. McCollum Wins 2015-16 NBA Most Improved Player Award

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum was announced as the runaway winner of the 2015-16 NBA Most Improved Player Award on Friday. 

Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated passed along the full list of results, which saw McCollum outpace the competition, led by point guard Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Reigning MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors finished fourth:

McCollum started just three games during his first two seasons in the league as a limited contributor in the Blazers rotation. But then an offseason of change, featuring the departures of forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum and guard Wesley Matthews, left a major void in Portland.

The Lehigh Mountain Hawks product filled that void, averaging 20.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, including 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. The vastly improved numbers came as he started 80 games and played 34.8 minutes per contest.

His rise is one of the main reasons, along with the continued success of point guard Damian Lillard, that the Blazers were able to avoid a major drop-off and still qualify for the postseason with a 44-38 record.

Portland provided a look back at the memorable campaign:

McCollum scored just nine points in a series-opening loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Afterward, he provided a glimpse into the mentality that allowed him to remain confident despite being a fringe contributor during the early stages of his career, per Joe Freeman of the Oregonian:

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It just stems from a lot of preparation over the course of my life. Just understanding you're going to struggle sometimes. There's going to be times when things don't go your way. You've just got to get back to the drawing board, prepare and know that there will be better days. It's a long season. It's a long series. And each game is a new game. It brings new challenges, new opportunities, and you can't get caught up in all that stuff.

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The Trail Blazers now find themselves down 2-0 in the series as they return home for Game 3 on Saturday night. Getting McCollum, who's shooting just 32.1 percent through two games, back on track is crucial if they are going to forge a comeback.

That said, regardless of how the playoffs turn out, McCollum's progress is a terrific sign for Portland moving forward. He proved he's capable of making a major impact on a nightly basis, and the best should still be ahead for the 24-year-old guard.