Every season, many NBA players get better from the previous season because that’s just the nature of the beast. If you want to stay in the league, if you want to be a rotational player, if you want to be a starter, if you want to be a star, if you want to be superstar… well, you have to put the time in on the court and work hard in practice and training during the offseason. I’ll never forget Magic Johnson saying in an interview that every summer, he worked hard and added one thing to his game for the following season. The NBA’s Most Improved Player award is a tangible appreciation for that hard work. While I’d guess more than half the league, at least, got better, below are the contenders in this, essentially, three-horse race.
Keep an eye on the below list of awards, which will be updated as we push forward.
Executive of the Year | Coach of the Year | Most Improved Player | Sixth Man of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Rookie of the Year | Most Valuable Player
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
2018-19: 21.2 points, 42.7 FG%, 71.3 FT%, 2.3 3PTM, 32.7 3FG%, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks, 19.6 PER
2019-20: 28.7 points, 46.1 FG%, 75.2 FT%, 2.9 3PTM, 31.8 3FG%, 9.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks, 27.7 PER
In only his second year, Doncic, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and 2018 third overall pick, has not only become a contender for this award, but should be a contender and in the top five of voting for this season’s MVP award as well. However, let’s take it one award at a time. Luka’s stat increases - 7.5 points, 0.6 3PTM, 1.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, about four percent increases from the floor and line, and 8.1 PER - are ridiculous to think about relative to this only being his sophomore season in the NBA. He’s been the undisputed leader of the 40-27 and 7th-seeded Dallas Mavericks, and should be so for seasons to come.
So, what’s the problem with just declaring Doncic the winner here? Usually, for this award, there’s a bias toward second-year players relative to players more in mid-career. Just a smaller sample size and the second-year may be an anomaly (it won’t be here). It also doesn’t help that he’s had the stamp of approval to ascend into stardom from the moment he entered the Association with his mix of overseas accomplishments, including being named MVP of Spain's La Liga and leading Real Madrid to the La Liga championship and being named MVP while leading Real Madrid to the EuroLeague championship. How old was he when he did this? Only 19 years old. So, depending on one’s setting of expectations, maybe it isn’t a surprise that Doncic is doing this well and making this big of a jump.
In any case, since the award’s inception for the 1985-86 season, a second-year player has won the award only three times. The first award went to Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs, 1987-88 award to Kevin Duckworth of the Portland Trail Blazers, and the last time it happened, 2006-07 to Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors. Will Doncic be the fourth?
Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
2018-19: 8.9 points, 57.6 FG%, 73.5 FT%, 0.0 3PTM, 20.0 3FG%, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks, 17.9 PER
2019-20: 16.2 points, 56.7 FG%, 69.0 FT%, 0.0 3PTM, 7.7 3FG%, 10.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks, 20.6 PER
Adebayo, the last lottery pick at 14 by the Heat in 2017, really blossomed in his third year as a pro. He was named to the 2020 NBA All-Star team and was one of four players to average at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, keeping company with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis, and Nikola Jokic. However, when we add in at least one steal and one block, only Giannis and Bam keep company. While always playing efficiently - 15.7 and 17.9 PER in his first two seasons - Adebayo jumped to an excellent 20.6 with increased minutes, up to 34.4 this season compared to last season’s 23.3.
And that increase hits at the heart of why Adebayo is in the mix for this award. If you look at Bam’s previous per 36 stats, this season was only one Hassan Whiteside trade away from happening. Fortunately, it happened and the future should continue to shine bright for Bam. What’s pretty amazing about this evolution, is the fact that Adebayo isn’t your normal big man as he can grab the rebound and go coast-to-coast, which is fine, and we’ve had these type of big men before. However, his ball skills stand out because he’s a big man that can also facilitate an offense in half-court sets. Bam is basically the East’s version of Jokic, and that’s a scary thought for Miami’s opponents.
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
2018-19: 18.3 points, 49.7 FG%, 67.5 FT%, 0.6 3PTM, 33.0 3FG%, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 13.4 PER
2019-20: 24.3 points, 46.6 FG%, 85.8 FT%, 2.4 3PTM, 38.7 3FG%, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 19.2 PER
Ingram had a lot of expectations coming out of Duke and being taken second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016. He was even compared, and these sorts of comparisons are always unfair for a rookie, to Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets. Well, shoot, no worries there, kid… you just have to play like one of the NBA’s best ever scorers. Easy, right? Obviously not, as the struggle was real for Ingram his first season, averaging 9.4 points on 40.2 percent shooting from the floor, 29.4 from three, and 62.1 from the charity stripe. Yikes.
However, he did a lot better, relatively, his second and third seasons with the Lakers. In that third season, and last for Los Angeles, Ingram put up very good numbers that you can see above. It was good enough for Ingram to be one of the main pieces that brought back Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in the big offseason trade that changed both franchise’s direction for the future.
So, after years of being trade bait, Ingram finally was moved and had to deal with a new city, new coach, new offensive and defensive focus, and new teammates. As well as the overwhelmingly and ever-present Zion Williamson hype. He overcame all of that and is just putting up numbers, becoming what many thought he’d be several years ago - a scorer. I know what you’re asking, “But how did he do with Zion on the floor?” Ingram still produced, averaging 21.1 points, 2.4 3PTM, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. I fully expect him to continue to do what he does best, Zion on or Zion off the floor, just putting that basketball through the net.
WINNER
Considering that both Luka and Ingram produced significantly last season, and both had high expectations relative to their draft positions, I’m going with Bam here as he came out of nowhere a little bit more and stayed ready, waiting for an opportunity, and took full advantage of it when it came.