On Tuesday, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was named the 2024 Most Improved Player of the Year.
The 2023-24 Kia NBA Most Improved Player is… Tyrese Maxey!#NBAAwards | #KiaMIP | @Kia pic.twitter.com/to9oMhhYgI
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
Averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game on 37.3 percent from 3, Maxey posted All-Star numbers. Indeed, at just 23 years old, Maxey has already earned his first All-Star selection. It’s his second consecutive season averaging at least 20 points per game and his third straight season converting at least 37 percent of his 3-point attempts.
For reference, James Harden averaged 21.0 points and 10.6 assists per game (79 games) while shooting 37.0 percent from 3 with the Sixers. With that said, Maxey has replaced Harden as well as nearly player could.
Tyrese Maxey Walks Away with Most Improved Player Award
A slithery shot-creator at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Maxey’s wasn’t able to win without Joel Embiid. Indeed, Philadelphia was 16-27 without Embiid in the 2023-24 regular season. Nonetheless, he did everything he could to put the team on his back, averaging at least 24 points per game in every month.
Maxey beat out a worthy group of Most Improved Player finalists, with Chicago Bulls guard Coby White and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun finishing among the top-three vote-getters. Each player averaged at least 19.0 points and 5.0 assists per game, with the Rockets and Sixers finishing with a record above .500.
To that point, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas arguably should’ve received greater recognition as a Most Improved Player candidate.
At the same time, Thomas’ playmaking was a notch below this season’s MIP finalists. Furthermore, the Nets finished the season with a 32-50 record. The Bulls also won fewer than 40 games last season. However, they managed to make the Play-In Tournament, giving them a chance at a NBA Playoffs berth. Brooklyn was 4.0 games out of a Play-In Tournament.
Defying Expectations
Drafted in the bottom-third of the first round, the Texas native has definitely exceeded expectations.
Certainly, he played for a prestigious college program that’s produced several high-caliber NBA players. However, Maxey shot just 42.7 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from 3 leaving Kentucky. He also averaged just 3.2 assists to 2.2 assists per game, leading to questions about his true position.
Displaying a level of dedication typically reserved for the league’s marquee players, Maxey’s work ethic up to this point lends credence to the belief that he can become a perennial All-Star candidate.
There are still questions about his shot-selection and perimeter defense. Nonetheless, he’s in just his fourth season. He should be expected to grow in both of those areas.
