Center of the Universe Award (For Most Shots Taken)
Byron Mullens, Charlotte Bobcats
I'm not sure who told Mullens he's Dirk Nowitzki, but he seemed to believe it. The Bobcats center took a lot of long jumpers, which might have been more disorienting to opposing teams than the full-court press Charlotte used throughout. Mullens did average 15.4 points per game, but he needed 15.6 field goal attempts per contest to achieve that.
Runner-up: Jimmer Fredette, Sacramento Kings
Most Improved Second-Year Player
Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Bobcats
Before a Timberwolves home game against the Bobcats last season, I watched the coaching staff work with Biyombo on just catching post-entry passes. He wasn't even making moves after them. He just practiced catching the ball. A few months later, he's scoring on solid post moves, finding cutters down the lane and dominating the boards. Could be a sign of things to come.
Runner-up: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs





