Oakland, Calif. ? Golden State guard Monta Ellis was selected the NBA’s Most Improved Player on Wednesday, edging Sacramento’s Kevin Martin in the closest voting in the award’s history.

Ellis, a second-year pro who joined the Warriors straight out of his Mississippi high school, received 47 first-place votes and 352 points from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Martin, the Kings’ high-scoring guard, had 44 first-place votes and 349 points. Utah’s Deron Williams was a distant third with 101 points.