NEW YORK, April 28 -- Bobby Simmons of the Los Angeles Clippers was named the winner of the 2004-05 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

WIth 384 points, Simmons ran away with the Most Improved Player honors.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images
Simmons is the first Clipper to be honored with the Most Improved Player award since its inception. He also becomes the first player with NBDL (2002-03) experience to be honored with one of the NBA’s annual awards.

Simmons received a total of 384 points, including 59 first-pace votes, from a panel of 123 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Miami’s Dwyane Wade finished second with 129 points (15 first-place votes) followed by Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince with 107 points (14 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.

"Bobby plays the game with toughness," said TNT analyst Doug Collins. "He plays hard. He gives you his best effort all the time. He’s smart. He shoots the ball well and he’s an all-around player."

A former member of the NBDL’s Mobile Revelers, Simmons is in his fourth NBA season and averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 37.3 minutes per game this season. He improved his scoring average from last season by 8.6 points, his rebounding average by 1.2 rpg. Simmons also increased his field goal percentage to .466 (up from .394 in 2003-04) and three-point field goal percentage to .435 (up from .167 in 2003-04).

He started 74 of the 75 games in which he played for the Clippers this season, leading the team in scoring on 12 occasions, rebounds five times, assists six times and steals 21 times.

A second round selection in the 2001 NBA Draft (42nd pick overall) by the Seattle SuperSonics, Simmons spent two seasons with the Washington Wizards (2001-02 and 2002-03) before signing with the Clippers prior to the 2003-04 season.

2004-05 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS

Player, Team1st2nd3rdPts
Bobby Simmons, L.A. Clippers592320384
Dwyane Wade, Miami15166129
Tayshaun Prince, Detroit14910107
Primoz Brezec, Charlotte5102075
Dan Dickau, New Orleans591668
LeBron James, Cleveland410757
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix56346
Joel Przybilla, Porltand15828
Larry Hughes, Washington17228
Chris Bosh, Toronto13721
Grant Hill, Orlando22117
Udonis Haslem, Miami13216
Damon Jones, Miami21114
Luke Ridnour, Seattle12314
Gilbert Arenas, Washington12213
Kirk Hinrich, Chicago12112
Kyle Korver, Philadelphia0309
Tyson Chandler, Chicago0228
Josh Howard, Dallas1027
Joe Johnson, Phoenix0206
Vince Carter, New Jersey116
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas1005
Eddy Curry, Chicago0125
Shaquille O'Neal, Miami1005
Shawn Marion, Phoenix1005
Brevin Knight, Charlotte0103
Fred Jones, Indiana0103
Gerald Wallace, Charlotte0103
Jason Richardson, Golden State0103
Reggie Evans, Seattle0103
Drew Gooden, Cleveland0022
Anthony Johnson, Indiana0011
Mickael Pietrus, Golden State0011
Rashard Lewis, Seattle0011
Ricky Davis, Boston0011
Tony Parker, San Antonio0011

ALL-TIME NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD WINNERS

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
1999-2000: 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, Portland