Toronto Raptors: Four surprising players one month into the season

Chris Boucher

While he may not get serious consideration in the end, Chris Boucher should be firmly in the mix for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. He is not on track to All-Star numbers like Christian Wood or Jerami Grant. But his growth is notable nonetheless.

So far this season he is seeing the fourth-highest scoring differential from last season to this in the league, behind only the two aforementioned forwards and Malik Beasley. There were clear projections of a leap from one of the younger prospects on the team but few would have guessed Boucher. He is posting a line of 15.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.1 assists per game. Boucher is shooting 59.4 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from long range.

Last season Boucher broke the 20 point barrier just three times. Through 14 games this season he has done so seven times already, including a stretch of five out of six games. He is making the other centers on the roster expendable, even if he is undersized at 6’9”. His 7’4” wingspan makes him into a defensive terror and he is reaping the benefits of his increased opportunity. Boucher is a fixture and will be going forward.