We have seen multiple teams exceed expectations and find success this season. At the center of their success has been the breakout performances of key players. With so many candidates, who among them should be finalists for Most Improved Player?
Who Should Be the Finalists for Most Improved Player?
Unlike recent memory, the race for the NBA’s Most Improved Player has a plethora of viable candidates. The reason for this has been due to the emergence of multiple surprise teams this season. Naturally, these rising teams generally owe their success to the emergence of a previously unknown player.
The Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets are among the franchises that have made noise this season for all the right reasons. Sacramento is ahead of schedule in their rebuild, at one point in talks for a spot in the postseason. The Raptors have made themselves a true legitimate contender out East. And the Nets have easily become the best team in New York, which speaks volumes considering their past front office mistakes.
Each of these franchises has a viable candidate with a respective case for Most Improved Player. Let’s take a look at the justifications for each player, as well as how the race could eventually play out.
De’Aaron Fox
The Sacramento Kings were meant to be lottery bound this season (without a first round pick) but instead have been ahead of schedule in rebuilding. Sacramento could very well finish at .500 on the season, and at one point were within a fighting shot of the eighth seed in the West.
Their success is due to multiple contributors, but at the forefront has been the improved play of De’Aaron Fox. Fox increased his season averages to 17.4 points per game and 7.2 assists per game. Most notable is his improvement in overall shot percentage: around 41 percent in his rookie season to 45.7 percent this year.
His 17.7 PER is third best on the Kings roster, a testament to his growth as an overall playmaker. For reference, Fox is averaging more points and assists this year than his 2017 NBA Draft counterparts, Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum. After his increased play, Fox is drawing plenty of acknowledgments that if the 2017 Draft was re-done, he very well could be selected first.
Pascal Siakam
The Toronto Raptors have become one of the most lethal threats out in the Eastern Conference. Off-the-top, many point to the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard as a major factor for Toronto’s stellar play. However, it cannot be overlooked that the breakout of Pascal Siakam has undoubtedly factored into Toronto’s success.
One could make the argument that Siakam has cemented his status as the Raptors’ second best player. His 16.8 points per game are second best for Toronto and he averages 1.0 steals per game, which is top three on the team. His true shooting percentage of 62 percent is third best and ahead of superstar Kawhi Leonard.
One of the best traits of this Raptors team has been its ability to still compete nightly even without Kawhi in the lineup. The rest of the roster continues to step up, and among them has been Siakam. After averaging just 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a year ago, he has an unmistakable case for being most improved.
D’Angelo Russell
One of the best storylines to follow this NBA season has been the rise of the Brooklyn Nets. After front office mistakes in the past that had future consequences, the Nets should be applauded for rebuilding their roster and becoming the best team in New York. It’s also great when your team has a first-time All-Star in point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Russell is averaging career highs with 20.9 points per game, 7 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. In his fourth year, he is effectively becoming the leader of his own team after being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago, the franchise that drafted him second overall.
D’Angelo Russell’s most improved case helps when he has a few memorable performances on his resume. He totaled 44 points in a comeback victory over the Kings back on March 19th that kept their playoff hopes alive. Then, revenge was served as he helped end his former team’s playoff hopes in a victory over the Lakers. Russell tallied 21 points with 13 assists.
Who Comes out on Top?
All three candidates have worthy reasons for walking away with the Most Improved Player hardware. De’Aaron Fox is on the path to become the franchise cornerstone the Kings hoped he’d be when they selected him fifth overall. Pascal Siakam’s rise gives the Raptors an edge they need to contend for an NBA Finals appearance in June. D’Angelo Russell has risen to star status in helping make the Nets the best team in New York.
Fox’s case could have been stronger if the Kings were to end their playoff drought, which happens to be the longest active drought in the NBA. Siakam’s rise has been unprecedented, but voters likely view the Raptors’ success attributed to other key players like the newly acquired Leonard.
D’Angelo Russell could very well walk away with the hardware at the end of the season. If the season ended today, the Brooklyn Nets would be in the playoffs, a feat that not many deemed realistic for this team at the beginning. He has multiple notable performances on the season. Unlike the other two candidates, Russell has an all-star appearance to his name. So many worthy candidates speak to the improved competition in the NBA. But at the end of the day, the hardware could come to Brooklyn at season’s end.
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