Memphis Grizzlies: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

Most Improved Player: MarShon Brooks

MarShon Brooks surprised many last season when he was brought in by the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract and proceeded to average 20.1 points in seven games towards the end of the regular season.

It was a welcome sight for a guy who made the All-Rookie Second Team back in 2012 but then couldn’t find the right fit afterward, bouncing around the country before going overseas for a bit.

Back in the NBA on a two-year deal, Brooks will be given the opportunity to reintroduce himself to the rest of the league over the course of a full season.

It’s likely the former Providence guard won’t average 20-plus a night given the return of Mike Conley and the added importance to the games early on, but there’s no reason he can’t establish himself as a 15 points per game scorer.

The Most Improved Player trophy obviously takes into account what a player did the previous season.

Brooks came from overseas and got himself back into the NBA, so if he can follow up those seven terrific games with a consistent performance in the upcoming season, that says a lot about how he improved during his time away.