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 17, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward James Johnson (16) dunks during the second half agains the Minnesota Timberwolves at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 123-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

6. James Johnson

James Johnson‘s numbers don’t really leap off the page, with the Miami Heat veteran averaging 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. But for a 30-year-old to put up career highs in four of those five categories is rare, especially since he spent most of the season coming off the bench.

Johnson should be in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation as well, since his playmaking and versatility off the bench helped the Heat close the year on a 30-11 tear despite starting the season 11-30.

James Johnson's go-ahead layup proved to be the game-winner and kept Miami alive in the playoff hunt pic.twitter.com/aEI76tdEou
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) April 9, 2017

He also had one of the best shooting seasons of his eight-year career, making 47.9 percent of his field goals and a career-high 34 percent of his 3.4 threes per game (also a career-high).

From his contributions on the defensive end to his well-rounded production on the stat sheet, Johnson’s season was a major upgrade after being something of an afterthought in Toronto’s rotation. Simply put, he was an intrinsic part of one of the most dramatic midseason turnarounds in NBA history.