The NBA Most Improved Player is one of many prestigious awards in the NBA. It recognizes players who have made strides in their career. Their game improved significantly and put the league on notice. The Most Improved Player could go from one of the last players off the bench to a key contributor of their team. Then, most of them go on to have productive careers and in some cases become stars. The award is the start of a bright future and career for an up and coming player.
This season’s Most Improved Player race includes several worthy candidates. D’Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets and De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings are two potential candidates. Both players improved significantly in the 2018-2019 season. Russell averaged a career high in points and assists. He averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 assists. Fox averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 assists in his sophomore year. He averaged 5.7 more points than he did last season. He and Russell are having great seasons but there is a frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award. The frontrunner for the MIP award is Pascal Siakam.
Siakam is a forward for the Toronto Raptors. This season Siakam averages 17.0 points and 6.9 rebounds. This is Siakam’s third season in the NBA and his stats improved drastically. In his first season, Siakam averaged 4.2 points in 15.6 minutes. In his second year, Siakam averaged 7.3 points. Siakam also improved his three-point shooting. He shot 36.8 percent from the 3-point line. His percentage went up 14.8 percent from last year. It is also a huge improvement from 14.3 percent, his 3-point percentage in his first season. Siakam’s game has improved and his stats show it.
Last season, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo was named Most Improved Player. He averaged a career-best 23.1 points and 2.4 steals. He also had a career high in field-goal percentage (.477) and three-point percentage (.371). Oladipo had a decent career prior to his 2017-2018 season, but his move to the Pacers rejuvenated his young career. Like Oladipo, Siakam could become one of three finalists for the Most Improved Players award and win the prestigious award.
Siakam is having a great 2018-19 season. His performance helped the Raptors become one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Siakam could join other Most Improved Player recipients such as Kevin Love, Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Siakam’s stats are what the Most Improved Player is all about. He not only the frontrunner for the award but he deserves to win. Siakam is the Most Improved Player and his win could be the start of a tremendous career. The future looks bright for him.
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