Every year, one of the most hotly debated recognitions at the end of the NBA’s regular season is the Most Improved Player Award.
Last year, first-time All-Star Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz had the honor bestowed upon him. The other two nominees for the award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, each had strong individual cases themselves. Gilgeous-Alexander was eventually rewarded with a 1st Team All-NBA selection while Brunson had a great opening round of the playoffs that showcased both his leadership and his skill set.
The NBA’s Most Improved Player is one of the league’s most prestigious awards. Who will walk away with the trophy next season?
In order to be considered for this prestigious award, a player must not only improve individually but there must also be a general sense that his contributions to the team have bolstered their performance that season and helped the franchise maintain positive momentum. Becoming a winning team is hard to do in the NBA; if a player can positively impact the wins and losses column his value to the franchise reaches far beyond the stat sheet.
The NBA draft was less than a month ago and the summer league just concluded; it is way too early to predict next season’s awards winners. Nevertheless, I will take the luxury of making a few bold predictions as to who will lead the race for the award next season. In selecting the players who should be in the running for the award next year, I have taken into consideration both last year’s performance, anticipated individual development, and the trajectory of the team. Let’s take a closer look at the way-too-early candidates for the 2024 Most Improved Player Award.
Herbert Jones- New Orleans Pelicans
Next season will be small forward Herbert Jones’ third year in the NBA. In his first two years, Jones established himself as an elite perimeter defender, and an exceptional athlete, and had a respectable showing in the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest.
Although the 6’7″ forward has immense potential, it will be difficult for him to gain individual recognition. That is largely due to the fact that the team possesses Brandon Ingram, an elite player with a similar body type who also happens to play the same position. Last season, Ingram averaged 24.7 points per game although injuries led him to participate in just 45 contests. The expectation is that he’ll be healthy next year and therefore be able to provide the scoring punch for his team on a nightly basis.
With that being said, Jones’ play for the Most Improved Player Award needs to come from the defensive side of the ball. I know what you’re thinking: “That’s what the Defensive Player of The Year Award is for.” However, take a second to hear me out. There is already a precedence for players making a big defensive impact for their teams and being named the league’s Most Improved Player.
In 1986, guard Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs set an all-time record that still stands to this day of 3.7 steals per game. He was awarded his first All-Star appearance and walked away as that season’s Most Improved Player. In 1996, Gheorghe Muresan starting center of the Washington Bullets led the league in field goal percentage while also averaging 2.3 blocks per game. He too walked away with that year’s Most Improved Player Award. Getting buckets is one way to help your team win, but being stellar on the defensive end can be just as impactful.
Last season, Jones averaged 0.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. As a small forward whose goal is to become his team’s sixth man next season, averaging nearly one block and two steals per contest would have a big impact on the ball club and would catapult him into Most Improved Player consideration.
Derrick White- Boston Celtics
In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Derrick White made perhaps the most memorable play of the 2023 postseason when he made a tip-in at the buzzer to win the contest and force Game 7. Unfortunately for the Boston Celtics, they were handily beaten on their homecourt in the series’ deciding game.
However, White’s contributions to the C’s 2023 campaign extended far beyond one unbelievable highlight in the Conference Finals. Last season, he was Boston’s Mr. Reliable, playing in all 82 regular season games while making 70 starts. Not only did he provide a consistent scoring boost by averaging 12.4 points per game, but he also displayed poise and playmaking ability, which translated to 3.9 assists per contest. Most often, the Celtics’ offense goes through Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown, their All-Star duo. The fact that White was able to make these contributions in a not-so-traditional off-the-ball role speaks volumes about his basketball IQ.
This past offseason, the Celtics made headlines again when they traded away one of their vocal leaders, Marcus Smart, in a three-team deal that landed them the services of Kristaps Porzingis. Many pundits are already calling them the favorites to win the East next season. The absence of Smart means that White will become the team’s full-time starter at point guard. One can only imagine that being given the keys to the car is only going to make White a better driver of the team’s offense than he was before.
Having another potential All-Star on the roster is a gift but it will also mean there will be an adjustment period for everyone on the team. However, White’s stabilizing presence as a six year NBA veteran who has played a lot of meaningful playoff basketball means the team will have a calming force at the point guard position. For White, his increased opportunities could also lead to contention for the Most Improved Player Award when it’s all said and done.
Tyrese Maxey- Philadelphia 76ers
In his third season in the NBA, Tyrese Maxey averaged 20.3 points per game as a part-time starter for the Philadelphia 76ers. At times, he played point guard and was tasked with feeding superstar center Joel Embiid the ball in the right spots. In other instances, he was instructed to get buckets while Embiid and James Harden took a breather. Regardless of the assignment, Maxey followed Doc Rivers’ instructions masterfully and the Sixers were better for it.
The elephant in the room is the uncertainty surrounding Harden’s future. Although he opted into his contract for next season and has made the decision to forego free agency, the Sixers are actively seeking a trade for him. The rumors are too numerous to name here; they range anywhere from Embiid trying to convince him to stay in the City of Brotherly Love, to Harden being reunited with Russell Westbrook as a member of the LA Clippers.
Whatever happens, will have a direct impact on Maxey’s future. If Harden is traded, Maxey will most likely become the team’s full-time floor general and be forced to relinquish his role as the leader of the second unit. This could mean a dip in points per game, but it would not mean a decrease in overall productivity. Maxey’s feel for the game has proven to be good enough that he can adjust to playing with different lineups and be effective no matter what he is called upon to do.
Last year’s underwhelming performance by Philadelphia in Games 6 and 7 of the Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics left a bitter taste in the mouths of Sixers fans. In Maxey, the Sixers’ fanbase can take solace in the fact that they have a 22-year-old star who has shot over 40 percent from three-point land each of the last two seasons and is only getting better. The sky is the limit for Maxey, and the Most Improved Player Award may very well be within his reach.
Anfernee Simons- Portland Trail Blazers
The fact that Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers can score in bunches is no longer a secret. For the first few years of his career, he was able to hone his craft in practice against CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. McCollum has been gone for over a year and there are rumors that Portland will embrace the youth movement and send Lillard away soon.
If Lillard is indeed traded this offseason, the keys to the franchise will be handed to Simons along with rookie phenom Scoot Henderson. Last season, Simons averaged 21.1 points to go along with 4.1 assists while starting in all 62 of the games he played in. He has proven that he is capable of being a first option on an NBA team and holding his own. The question is, can the Blazers win while making him the focal point of their offense?
Simons’ points per game have increased every year he’s been in the league. However, the Blazers’ fortunes have fluctuated during that time span. When Simons was a rookie who didn’t receive much playing time, the team advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors. Last season, they failed to make the playoffs altogether. While it looks like the team is headed for a rebuild, Portland can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have a guard like Simons who can erupt for 30 points on any given night and help them stay competitive in ballgames.
If the team goes through with the Lillard trade, Simons could potentially boost his scoring to 25 points or more per night. If he is able to do that while helping Portland win enough games to earn a top-ten seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the Play-in tournament, he will be in the discussion for Most Improved Player of the Year when it’s all said and done.
Mikal Bridges- Brooklyn Nets
In just his third game after being acquired by the Brooklyn Nets from the Phoenix Suns, fifth-year forward Mikal Bridges erupted for 45 points. Despite their best efforts, the visiting Miami Heat had no answer for Bridges who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to lead his team to an eleven-point victory.
After trading away both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the same season, early optimism could have easily turned to pessimism for Brooklyn’s fanbase. Instead, the 2023 season revealed some positive aspects of the team’s future. Jacque Vaughn appears to be the right Head Coach to guide the young ballclub for the next several years. In addition, Bridges has emerged as an All-Star level talent who can be a consistent first option and single-handedly take over a game at crunch time. Due to these developments, the team achieved sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and was able to experience a playoff birth without having to participate in the play-in tournament.
Next season, Bridges could be in the race for the league’s leading scorer. That may sound absurd for a guy who’s never been a primary option for a full season but it’s not unrealistic for Bridges. Through a 27-game sample size as a Net, Bridges averaged 26.1 points per game. While opposing teams will be aware of him next season, he has earned the faith and trust of his teammates. They are more than willing to play through him and allow him to be the focal point of the offense.
The NBA’s Most Improved Player Award is a hotly debated topic each and every season. There are many different criteria that can go into who should or should not qualify as a finalist for the award. Over the years, the award has included defensive specialists, ball-handling guards, and rim-protecting centers. Based on last year’s performances and the developments within their franchises, these five players have set themselves apart as the most likely finalists for the award next season.
As always, watching them improve their games individually while impacting their teams’ success will be a joy. May the best man win.