Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love drives against Dallas Mavericks forward Brian Cardinal (L) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in the Target Center in Minneapolis, March 7, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - Minnesota's Kevin Love was entitled the NBA's Most Improved Player of 2010-2011 on Thursday after a season of leading the league in rebounding.

Love received 66 first-place votes in the ballotting of sportswriters and broadcasters for the award presented annually to a player who has made significant improvement from the previous season.

He averaged 20.2 points with 15.2 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves, earning his first All-Star appearance even though he played for a team that finished with the league's worst record.

He recorded a stunning streak of 53 consecutive games with a double-double, the longest such streak since Elvin Hayes did it in 55 games in 1973 and 74.

In a game against the Knicks in November, Love scored 31 points and grabbed 31 rebounds to become the first player since Moses Malone in 1982 to score at least 30 points with at least 30 rebounds in a game.

Love increased his scoring by 6.2 points per game over the 2009-10 season, increased his rebounding by 4.4 per game and improved his three-point shooting by 8.9 percent.