Top 5 NBA Most Improved Player candidates this season

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 19: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court around Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 19, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 04: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball while guarded by Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics during a game at TD Garden on April 4, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts, Top 5 NBA Most Improved Player candidates this season. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

The NBA season is nearing its end, and with that comes one of the most fun aspects of the year – debating NBA awards. Throughout the years, the Most Improved Player is usually one of the least contested and/or debated awards. Usually, one player clearly separates himself from the rest of the pack.

Top 5 NBA Most Improved Player candidates this season

Over the last five years, only the 2020 season featured a slightly-contested award, with the race coming down to Bam Adebayo and Brandon Ingram. Adebayo received a total of 38 first-place votes, while Ingram got 42. Aside from that season, the most first-place votes the runner-up garnered in the last 5 seasons was 17 (Nikola Jokic, 2017 season).

However, it seems as though this trend will be balked this year. With no clear-cut winner separating himself from the rest, the 2022 Most Improved Player Award is shaping up to be the most highly-contested MIP in recent memory.

The criteria used for the construction of this list are the following – players with at least three years of experience in the league (sorry Desmond Bane), earning a more prominent role in the team than in the previous year, improvements from a statistical standpoint, and overall team success.

Based on our criteria, these are the five players that should be in contention for the 2021-2022 Most Improved Player Award.