Hornets launch campaign to boost Kemba Walker’s candidacy for NBA’s most improved player

The Charlotte Hornets are looking to boost point guard Kemba Walker’s candidacy for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award with a political-campaign spoof they’ll be sending out to likely voters for the award.

The campaign – “Win with Walker” – debuted Tuesday when the Hornets ran a political commercial-style video during the pregame show before the Hornets-Toronto Raptors game. The video included “endorsements” from several of Walker’s teammates this season, including Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lin and Al Jefferson.

The Hornets will send out packets to media members who cover the NBA on a regular basis, including a bumper sticker and campaign button.

Three media members in each of 30 NBA cities vote for the league’s various awards.

As far as Walker’s improvement, he’s raised his scoring average from 17.3 points per game last season to 21 points this season. He has raised his rebounding from 3.5 per game last season to 4.5 this season.

But the biggest improvement by Walker has been in his shooting. He is making 37 percent of his 3-point attempts this season, compared to 30.4 percent last season. His overall field-goal percentage has risen from 38.5 percent last season to 42.6 percent this season.

The improvement in Walker’s 3-point percentage has made it much harder for opponents to guard him in the pick-and-roll. Opponents can no longer go under a pick to cut off Walker’s drives because he’s so much more dangerous from 3-point range.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Hornets launch campaign to boost Kemba Walker’s candidacy for NBA’s most improved player."