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2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 10 Most Improved Player Candidates

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball in the third quarter against Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets 108-83. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball in the third quarter against Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Denver Nuggets 108-83. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Most Improved Player
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

There are many deserving candidates for the 2016-17 Most Improved Player of the Year Award, but there’s one clear frontrunner: Giannis Antetokounmpo. To be perfectly honest, the gap between him and the rest of the pack is as extensive as the massive strides the Greek Freak made in his fourth season.

Again, we expect these players in their early 20s to take significant leaps in their third or fourth seasons, but Antetokounmpo had a historic year, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game.

Averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, Giannis also became the first player in NBA history to post such a stat line — all while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and doubling as the team’s most versatile defender and rim protector.

Every single night, fans were treated to at least one or two eye-popping plays that had to be seen to be believed. From soaring dunks to wicked spin moves to vicious chase-down blocks, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo are why people should be upset Vine is no longer a thing.

Throw in the way he led a Milwaukee Bucks team to the 6-seed in the East despite missing Khris Middleton for most of the season and losing Jabari Parker halfway through it and suddenly Giannis is in the All-NBA conversation…and just outside of the MVP debate as well.

Next: NBA Awards Season - Top 10 Rookie Of The Year Candidates

At 22 years old, it’s only a matter of time before the Greek Freak is the best player in the NBA. Most Improved Player of the Year may be the first of many awards in what’s shaping up to be an illustrious career.