With the regular season coming to an end, predictions around the league’s awards are popping up. However, predictions regarding the Most Improved Player award are less common, making it a very underrated award in the NBA. Three players deserve an in-depth analysis of their sudden improvement this year. Who are they?
3. Jalen Brunson
An unexpected player on this list, Brunson’s addition to the Knicks was everything he needed to improve as a player. Focusing more on the offensive and playmaking aspects when he is on the court, Brunson is a fundamental piece for the Knicks’ Rotation, showing how a player can improve when provided with team confidence. He made his more notable jump after the all-star break, helping the Knicks maintain a solid 9-Game winning streak to stay among the top seeds in the Eastern Conference.
2022-2023: 23.6 Points, 3.5 Rebounds, 6.1 Assists Per Game
2021-2022: 16.3 Points, 3.9 Rebounds 4.8 Assists Per Game
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The youngest team in the NBA has a bright future ahead of them. Shai has made a significant jump as the star of the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, especially on the offensive production end. Due to his incredible performances, playmaking, and overall unique style, he is arguably a top-12 player in the league, having an All-NBA caliber season. We expect him to continue being consistent, following this improvement path for the years to come.
2022-2023: 31.3 Points, 4.8 Rebounds, 5.4 Assists Per Game, 62% TS
2021-2022: 24.5 Points, 5 Rebounds 5.9 Assists Per Game, 55% TS
1. Lauri Markkanen
In his first season playing with the Utah Jazz as a result of their rebuild phase, Lauri has been absolutely phenomenal on both ends of the court. His addition was perfect for the team, as he stepped up when needed the most, gaining the trust of the group. Additionally, Markkanen has shown constant improvement throughout the season, which makes us think he has yet to reach his full potential in the NBA and can ultimately be an even better player later on.
2022-2023: 25.7 Points, 8.6 Rebounds, 1.9 Assists Per Game, 64.4% TS
2021-2022: 14.8 Points, 5.7 Rebounds 1.3 Assists Per Game, 58.2 % TS
These three players are definitely worthy of the MIP Award, each standing out in different aspects of the game. However, considering the circumstances, and what the Most Improved Player award represents in the NBA, Lauri Markkanen has a clear advantage over Shai and Brunson this year, even if Shai is a better player overall. Hopefully, we will see all of them in the NBA postseason, starting Apr. 15.
Text Sources: nba.com, basketball-reference.com, statmuse.com
