Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 5 Early Candidates For Most Improved Player

By Ti Windisch

Nov 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) warms up prior to their game against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) warms up prior to their game against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Oct 16, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Wilson Chandler

This is a tricky one. Wilson Chandler has absolutely been one of the most improved players in the NBA this year, but he didn’t play a single minute last season. That will likely work against him–it’s obviously easy to improve on literally nothing.

Chandler is having a career year, and he would be up for the award if he had never missed a season. His numbers are far and away better this season than in 2014-15, when Chandler last played.

Per 36 Minutes Table
Season G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2014-15 78 2471 14.2 .429 5.9 .342 2.1 .775 6.9 2.0 0.8 0.4 1.6 3.4 15.8
2016-17 12 361 17.4 .466 4.5 .311 3.9 .718 8.8 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.9 2.6 20.3
Career 457 14194 14.0 .443 4.4 .339 2.7 .774 6.2 2.0 0.9 0.8 1.7 3.3 16.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2016.

Although his three-point percentage is lacking slightly, Chandler is doing better than both his last season and his career average in field goal shooting, points per 36 minutes and free throws attempted per 36 minutes.

Chandler has become more efficient, even though his three-pointers aren’t falling at the moment. He plays on a team not many general NBA fans care about and he’s not the flashiest pick for the award, but Wilson Chandler is looking like a whole new player on the Denver Nuggets this year.