HoopsHype.com Rumors

Indiana's Paul George, who earned his first All-Star Game berth en route to leading the Pacers to the Central Division crown and the No. 3 seed in the eastern Conference playoffs, is the winner of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a significant improvement from the previous season. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

George received 311 of a possible 1,080 points, including 52 first-place votes, from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Greivis Vasquez of the New Orleans (146 points, 13 first-place votes) and the Milwaukee Bucks' Larry Sanders (141 points, 10 first-place votes) finished second and third, respectively. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Paul George, Greivis Vasquez, Larry Sanders 

Mike Wells: Paul George thought he had a better chance at Defensive Player of the Year than Most Improved Player. He said he will win DPOY one day, tho Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Indiana's George Most Improved Indiana’s Paul George, who earned his first All-Star Game berth en route to leading the Pacers to the Central Division crown and the No. 3 seed in the eastern Conference playoffs, is the winner of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Mike Wells: As most have been tweeting, Pacers call 10 am press conference on Tuesday where Paul George will be named NBA's Most Improved Player Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Paul George 

Brandon Rush: Congrats to the young homie @Paul George on Most Improved Player. You deserve it bro! Twitter @BRush_4

Indiana Pacers, Brandon Rush, Paul George 

Scott Agness: Paul George said associate head coach Brian Shaw brought out his championships rings yesterday as motivation. Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Brian Shaw 

For West, this isn’t just an act. When asked to define West – the person, not the player – Paul George offered up: “A true leader. He leads by example.” Even further pressed, George said West is the one that is constantly pushing everybody up and keeping things positive. Sound familiar? Part of the issue with those at Pendleton is that they don’t grow up in quality and encouraging environments. They don’t have many examples of successful people around them so, in turn, they only know how to negatively act. As an NBA player, a physically tough one at that, West commands their attention. He provides them with an opportunity to interact with somebody that’s gushing full of positive energy. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, David West 

“It’s tough to hear, especially when we know how Danny’s been battling it all year long and trying to get back healthy and back to 100 percent,” Pacers forward Paul George told HOOPSWORLD. “It’s tough. We all know where he’s at mentally as far as wanting to play. You definitely want to play. For us to be doing so well and having the year that we’re having, of course you want to be part of that. Of course you want to be a part of that and be on the court. Not that he’s not a part of it now, but there’s really so much that Danny brings that we really could have used come playoff time.” HoopsWorld

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George defended himself and dismissed any thought that he was a dirty player before the Pacers’ game against the Cavaliers on Monday. George involuntarily found himself caught in the fallout of Kobe Bryant’s ankle injury when Cavs guard Daniel Gibson over the weekend accused George of perhaps intentionally trying to hurt him last season. “I’m not a dirty player,” George said Monday. “A young guy doesn’t come into the league being a dirty player. But whatever he wants to say, he can say.” Akron Beacon Journal

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Paul George 

Paul George joined 1070 the Fan in Indianapolis with Grady and Big Joe to talk about how Roy Hibbert’s offensive improvement has helped his game, on Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the league and what led to his growth as a player this season. On the impact that Roy Hibbert’s made on offense since the All-Star break: “It hasn’t changed much (for me) but it’s made my job easier. Now Roy is making shots down there and creating his own. That’s just freeing up the whole floor and freeing up driving lanes for myself. His emergence and him coming back around with his confidence has been great for us.” On Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the game: “He’s obviously been on the defensive team, he’s been Defensive Player of the Year so he has the recognition and everything behind him to back that up. I obviously can’t do that as of now but I’m up there. If he considers himself the best defensive player of the game, I consider myself the same. I guess a tale of two sides.” Sports Radio Interviews

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Metta World Peace 

Paul George on Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the game: “He’s obviously been on the defensive team, he’s been Defensive Player of the Year so he has the recognition and everything behind him to back that up. I obviously can’t do that as of now but I’m up there. If he considers himself the best defensive player of the game, I consider myself the same. I guess a tale of two sides.” Sports Radio Interviews

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George, Metta World Peace 

These guys – led first and foremost by George and Granger – actually really like each other. “I think the biggest deal about it is the assumptions since I was coming back that there’d be a competition between us, when it’s actually the opposite,” Granger says. “The way he can break defenses down, the way he can create, I can just stand, catch and shoot, drive – it makes my job easier. He’s coming in at such a young age – he’s 22 now – I’m going to be 30 in a month and a half. FOXSports.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Danny Granger 

“So I’m about to have a mid-life crisis,” Granger says. George laughs at him. “So I’m 30, you know, I have no problem – I’ve been in the league eight years – I have no problem passing the mantle to him, to leave the team to Roy and George.” Granger looks at George, right in the eye. “Those guys really, even David, those are the nucleus of this team. I’m getting older now, and the fact that we drafted Roy, then we drafted PG, I was drafted here, Lance Stephenson was drafted here, Tyler was drafted here. My whole team I watched get drafted. I’ve watched all of them grow. So I have no problem passing the mantle. At all.” FOXSports.com

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Danny Granger, Lance Stephenson 

Mike Wells: Paul George said this all star game was just an appetizer for him. He wants to keep playing in it until he can't anymore Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, All-Star 

Stephen Curry has played himself back into Team USA mix, Jerry Colangelo tells me. David Lee and Paul George are also on the radar. That's obviously good news for Lee and George in All-Star seasons, but especially significant for Curry, who was in the 2010 world championships but did not make the roster for the 2012 Olympics. Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Jerry Colangelo, David Lee, USA Basketball, Stephen Curry 

He saw something special in the lanky 6-9 wing player. "When he got here (after the lockout), I immediately noticed his size and his ability to defend and he had all the tools, the footwork," Shaw said. "It was just a matter of getting his confidence up." George began picking Shaw's brain about Bryant's work ethic the first day they met. "How is Kobe in practice? Does he show up early and stay late? What's his game-day ritual like?" George would always ask Shaw. USA Today Sports

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Coaching, Brian Shaw 

Shaw may come across as a soft-spoken person, but he doesn't have a problem speaking up to George or any other player when he sees something he doesn't like. "He doesn't hold back on anything, and I mean anything," George said. "I like that. It's good to hear that. We do most of our talking while we're on the court or after practice. He'll also sit (with) me and we'll go over film." George knows Shaw has the resume to back up what he says. Shaw won championships as a player and as an assistant with the Lakers. He's also played with future Hall of Famers. "That holds a lot of weight," Shaw said. "When he's not doing something up to par or not working to the level I think he needs to be, I can always say (Bryant) ain't taking plays off. That holds weight with him." USA Today Sports

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Coaching, Brian Shaw 

George also credits Shaw, along with head coach Frank Vogel, for helping him become an All-Star in just his third year in the league. "He's really helped me out," George said of Shaw. "He's the one that gets on me. If I'm not playing well, if things aren't going right, and he knows I'm the reason for it, he'll let me hear about it." USA Today Sports

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Frank Vogel 

Darnell Mayberry: East 3-point participants: Paul George, Kyrie Irving and Steve Novak. West participants: Ryan Anderson, Matt Bonner and Stephen Curry. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Paul George, Matt Bonner, Stephen Curry, Ryan Anderson, Steve Novak, Kyrie Irving, All Star Game