Pacers forward Danny Granger was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Tuesday afternoon and insisted that he wants to get better.

"I don't want to just get better; I want to be an elite player," Granger said. "I've really patterned my defensive game after Ron Artest, but I probably got away from it the last two years. So next year, I think that (defense) will be my focus. We scored a lot of points, but we gave up a lot. As a leader, it starts with me and I have to be better on the defensive end."

Granger has always been in good shape, but acknowledged that he has to condition himself even better to become an elite player.

"The one problem I had last year was probably fatigue," Granger said. "I was in good shape, but to be a really good defensive player a la Kobe -- he's probably in the best shape in the NBA -- I need to improve on that."

Via Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers

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