NBA: Top 10 Candidates For 2016-17 Most Improved Player Of The Year

NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Most Improved Player Of The Year Award In 2016-17

Mar 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and center Alex Len (21) defend during the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker holds a bobble head of himself as he poses for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Devin Booker

The third and final sophomore on this list, Devin Booker may be poised to make the leap to stardom as early as 2016-17. It’ll likely happen for a mediocre — or even poor — Phoenix Suns team, but after taking Brandon Knight‘s starting job, it’s clear head coach Earl Watson is ready for the future to begin down in the Valley.

Booker, who won’t turn 20 until Phoenix’s third game of the season, only averaged 13.8 points per game on .423/.343/.840 shooting splits as a rookie. But he dominated Summer League, put up 19 points in 24 minutes in his team’s preseason opener and won the starting job in training camp. Oh and he also averaged 17.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in 51 starts last year.

His efficiency (.412/.302/.850) in those starts needs improving, but Booker was a lone gunner on a severely shorthanded Suns team at that point, which allowed defenses to key in on the efforts of a 19-year-old rookie.

Booker is so much more than the spot-up shooter he was pegged to be coming out of college. He can make plays out of the pick-and-roll, attacks the basket exceptionally well and though his defense needs work, this kid is going to be good. Now that he’s secured the starting role, he’s going to put up big numbers for a Suns team focused on player development.