NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Candidates

In 2018-19, Adebayo was a bench player on a mediocre Heat team and failed to average over 9 PPG or 7.5 RPG. This year, Bam has elevated his game to an All-Star level with over 16 PPG and 10.5 RPG.

The second option on a team that’s on pace for a home Playoff series in Miami is putting up career-highs in every major statistical category: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game.

Adebayo is a unique player because he’s a big who has an uncanny ability to play and defend like a guard. He’s 6’9 but can drive to the hole and lock up the opposing team’s wing players with his quick lateral movement.

Adebayo’s selection to the 2020 All-Star team and his contributions directly tying in with the Miami Heat being fourth in the East are why he’s currently leading this race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z90yHLgQa-4

The player on this list with the biggest increase in scoring from last season to this season (4.7 to 18.2 PPG), Graham is not to be underestimated. His Sophomore campaign leap also includes seven assists (2.6 APG as a rookie), three rebounds (1.4), and one steal per game (0.5).

Graham is leading the Charlotte Hornets in Points and Assists this season and has made the biggest improvement to his game out of anybody on this list. If the Hornets were in playoff contention or he was shooting above 38.2%, Graham would have a legitimate case to be the clear-cut Most Improved Player.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers was very vocal about not wanting to lose Shai during the trade talks involving Paul George last summer. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for the Thunder), Shai was part of the deal that sent him and others, along with a plethora of draft picks, to Oklahoma City for PG13. This season, Shai is showing the world exactly why he was so coveted by Doc.

SGA is one of four Thunder players to score over 17.5 PPG (Gallinari – 19.2, Schroder – 19.0, CP3 – 17.7) . Shai’s team-leading 19 PPG stands as a substantial improvement from the 10 PPG he averaged in LA just last season.

The Thunder are fifth in a loaded Western Conference which further validates Shai’s jump this season as a premier contributor on a team trailing Utah by just one game for the right to be home in the #4 vs. #5 seed battle if the Western Conference playoffs started today.

Nobody could have ever expected the third pick in the 2018 draft to play at the highest level ever seen in a Sophomore campaign. Luka Doncic is doing just that. In only his second year in the league, Luka is averaging a near triple-double for the season and he’s not even close to his prime yet.

Luka is the primary facilitator for a Dallas team that has the highest offensive rating (115.8) in the league. His control over the game is very elusive, as he plays at his own pace and has a thorough understanding of how to attack the defense each possession. Luka is one of those rare Most Improved Player candidates that’s also a contender to win the Most Valuable Player in the same season.

Probably the most overlooked player on these rankings due to his under-the-radar sudden stardom, Trae Young has made a vast development to his game. Since last season, he has increased his scoring numbers by double digits (19 PPG to 29 PPG) to be entrenched as the third-highest scorer in the NBA. His nine assists this year puts him in a class of players that only includes him & LeBron as players with 9+ APG.

Trae went from zero All-Star consideration last season to being an All-Star starter this season. The fact that he’s only 21 years old makes what he’s doing this year even more impressive. Trae’s not even near his prime yet and he’s already putting up better numbers than 99% of the league.

Nobody could have ever expected the third pick in the 2018 draft to play at the highest level ever seen in a Sophomore campaign. Luka Doncic is doing just that. In only his second year in the league, Luka is averaging a near triple-double for the season and he’s not even close to his prime yet.

Luka is the primary facilitator for a Dallas team that has the highest offensive rating (115.8) in the league. His control over the game is very elusive, as he plays at his own pace and has a thorough understanding of how to attack the defense each possession. Luka is one of those rare Most Improved Player candidates that’s also a contender to win the Most Valuable Player in the same season.

Probably the most overlooked player on these rankings due to his under-the-radar sudden stardom, Trae Young has made a vast development to his game. Since last season, he has increased his scoring numbers by double digits (19 PPG to 29 PPG) to be entrenched as the third-highest scorer in the NBA. His nine assists this year puts him in a class of players that only includes him & LeBron as players with 9+ APG.

Trae went from zero All-Star consideration last season to being an All-Star starter this season. The fact that he’s only 21 years old makes what he’s doing this year even more impressive. Trae’s not even near his prime yet and he’s already putting up better numbers than 99% of the league.

In 2018-19, Adebayo was a bench player on a mediocre Heat team and failed to average over 9 PPG or 7.5 RPG. This year, Bam has elevated his game to an All-Star level with over 16 PPG and 10.5 RPG.

The second option on a team that’s on pace for a home Playoff series in Miami is putting up career-highs in every major statistical category: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game.

Adebayo is a unique player because he’s a big who has an uncanny ability to play and defend like a guard. He’s 6’9 but can drive to the hole and lock up the opposing team’s wing players with his quick lateral movement.

Adebayo’s selection to the 2020 All-Star team and his contributions directly tying in with the Miami Heat being fourth in the East are why he’s currently leading this race.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers was very vocal about not wanting to lose Shai during the trade talks involving Paul George last summer. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for the Thunder), Shai was part of the deal that sent him and others, along with a plethora of draft picks, to Oklahoma City for PG13. This season, Shai is showing the world exactly why he was so coveted by Doc.

SGA is one of four Thunder players to score over 17.5 PPG (Gallinari – 19.2, Schroder – 19.0, CP3 – 17.7) . Shai’s team-leading 19 PPG stands as a substantial improvement from the 10 PPG he averaged in LA just last season.

The Thunder are fifth in a loaded Western Conference which further validates Shai’s jump this season as a premier contributor on a team trailing Utah by just one game for the right to be home in the #4 vs. #5 seed battle if the Western Conference playoffs started today.

The player on this list with the biggest increase in scoring from last season to this season (4.7 to 18.2 PPG), Graham is not to be underestimated. His Sophomore campaign leap also includes seven assists (2.6 APG as a rookie), three rebounds (1.4), and one steal per game (0.5).

Graham is leading the Charlotte Hornets in Points and Assists this season and has made the biggest improvement to his game out of anybody on this list. If the Hornets were in playoff contention or he was shooting above 38.2%, Graham would have a legitimate case to be the clear-cut Most Improved Player.