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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 /
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Nov 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 110-86. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 110-86. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Andrew Wiggins

The biggest thing holding back Andrew Wiggins from winning this award might be his draft standing. Wiggins went first overall back in the 2014 NBA Draft and generally first overall picks aren’t ever bad enough to win MIP.

Wiggins’ growth as a scorer has been truly fantastic. His per game scoring went up notably but modestly, from 20.7 points to 24.8 points per game, but the bulk numbers aren’t why Wiggins might be up for the Most Improved Player award.

The uptick in efficiency is what makes Wiggins stand out. His three-point percentage has shot up in the early going, from 30.0 percent on 2.3 attempts per game last season to 44.2 percent on 4.0 threes shot per game this time around.

That’s a huge jump, and one that speaks to all the work Wiggins put in this summer on fixing his shot form. He was a good player last year, but the addition of a real jump shot has completely changed his game and that of the entire Minnesota Timberwolves.

Spacing makes everything easier, and if Wiggins is going to be a shooter the Wolves have a very dangerous trio with him, Karl-Anthony Towns and Zach LaVine. Minnesota will be able to play Ricky Rubio easier if Wiggins can really shoot, which is huge for that team.

He was never awful, but the leap Andrew Wiggins took this year should at least put him in the Most Improved Player conversation.