Spurs: Keldon Johnson has ‘Most Improved Player’ written all over him

The NBA’s Most Improved Player award is traditionally awarded to a second or third-year player who took a “Ja Morant-like” leap to the All-Star level. Currently, the frontrunners to win the award are Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards, but San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is making his own case this season.

Johnson was the 29th pick in the 2019 draft but was already trusted with a starting role by his second season in the NBA. This starting spot is well-earned. Since his rookie season, Johnson has been steadily improving, boosting his scoring average from 9.1 points to 17 last season and almost doubling his rebound and assist numbers in the same time span.

Johnson was already in the running for the Most Improved Player award last season, so now is his time to prove that he deserves it. So far, he is averaging 23.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for the season, showing another noticeable improvement from his last campaign. This season should continue to be a good one for Johnson unless the Spurs decide to tank completely and bench him.

That is not unlikely since they are rebuilding, but with All-Star Dejounte Murray gone, they need a new player to be the face of the franchise, and Johnson can be that guy, so now is the time to develop him as much as possible.