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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Apr 12, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Rudy Gobert

Last year, Rudy Gobert‘s contributions to the Utah Jazz were pretty much just limited to shot-blocking, rebounding and being a 7’1″ alley-oop threat. This season, the Stifle Tower became one of the best big men in the entire league, providing the Jazz with a rock of consistency despite all the injuries to the rest of the roster.

Last year, Gobert averaged 9.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game on 55.9 percent shooting. In his fourth season in the league this year, the French Rejection posted 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game on 66.1 percent shooting — all career highs.

In addition to being one of the two main Defensive Player of the Year candidates, Gobert’s rapid rise to prominence deserves some attention. He’s gone from being a complete non-factor on offense to one of the game’s most dangerous rim-runners and finishers out of pick and rolls, all while anchoring the league’s third-best defense on the other end.

Most voters will be locked in on his DPOY candidacy, but he certainly deserves a few votes in the Most Improved Player conversation too, especially since he might wind up surpassing Anthony Davis for First Team All-NBA honors at the center spot.