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

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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Mar 21, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) in action during the game against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. The Warriors defeat the Mavericks 112-87. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Seth Curry

To be fair, Seth Curry‘s substantial improvement this season is based mostly on the fact that until 2016-17, he wasn’t even a rotation player in this league. His best season was last year, when he played only 44 games for the Sacramento Kings and averaged 6.8 points and 1.5 assists in just 15.7 minutes per game.

But since he proved himself as a legitimate player in this league, and since he carved out starter’s minutes on a Dallas Mavericks team that was still fighting for a playoff spot until the last few weeks of the season, he earns the nod with our final spot in the top 10.

With Seth Curry's season over, some of my notes and research on his first season with the Mavs pic.twitter.com/LxcyhhZ5Qc
— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) April 11, 2017

Curry was finally able to show he’s got the same blood as Stephen Curry running through his veins, putting together a career year of 12.8 points, 2.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.0 minutes per game. He also started in 42 of his 70 appearances for the Mavs.

Is Seth Curry a starting-caliber point guard in this league? Probably not. But he solidified himself as an efficient shooter and a capable backup for any team, shooting a tidy 48.1 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from long range and 85 percent from the foul line.