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.
The rise of Jordan Poole</a> has been one of the most surprising developments of this season. It was only a year ago that he was being recalled from the G-League to join the Golden State Warriors. After struggling mightily his first two years in the league, Poole has been able to turn things around this season.</p>
<p>Poole earned a spot in the starting lineup early in the season, admirably replacing the injured Klay Thompson, and is currently filling in for Stephen Curry. He has made the most of his increased playing time, upping his scoring considerably.</p>
<p>His efficiency has also increased, which is quite a feat, as usually, a player’s efficiency tends to drop when their usage is increased. He’s been the ball handler and shot creator the Dubs desperately needed entering the season. Poole’s ability to attack the paint and collapse the defense consistently has been crucial to the Warriors’ offense.</p>
<p>In the past year, Poole has gone from a potential bust to being a bonafide starting guard in the NBA and has been an essential part of the Warriors’ success this year. He’s solidifying himself as one of the best young guards in the league and as a core piece of <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/30/nba-most-improved-player-candidates/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/29/andre-iguodala-golden-state-warriors/">Golden State’s present and future.</a></p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 25: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after dunking against the Boston Celtics during the first half of their game at Spectrum Center on October 25, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Grant Halverson/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Most Improved Player candidates: Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets</h2>
<p><strong>2020-2021 Stats: 12.7 Pts, 2.2 Ast, 6.0 Reb, 0.7 Stl, 0.8 Blk, 50% FG, 40% 3pt, 87% FT</strong></p>
<p><strong>2021-2022 Stats: 20.0 Pts, 3.9 Ast, 7.0 Reb, 1.0 Stl, 0.9 Blk, 49% FG, 32% 3pt, 81% FT</strong></p>
<p>Miles Bridges took the league by storm at the start of the NBA season, averaging 24.6 points per game, on 50.8 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from deep. He has since cooled off and has regressed to the mean, especially in regard to his three-point shooting. Nonetheless, his game has taken an impressive leap this season.</p>
<p>The fourth-year Michigan State product was known for his elite athleticism, and as one of the best in-game dunkers in the game. This year, he has solidified himself as a core piece of the Hornets’ future, and as one of the best young wings in the league. Averaging just over 20 points per game this season, Bridges is knocking on the door of stardom. The main thing holding him back is his inconsistent three-point shooting.</p>
<p>He’s had stretches where he has shot the three-ball really well. In the months of October and March, which amounts to a 20-game sample, Bridges shot over 37 percent on threes (38.3 percent in March).</p>
<p>But he’s been unable to sustain it, shooting just 32 percent from three on the year. Even so, his improvement from last year has been substantial and he has played a crucial part in the Hornets’ success this year.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 01: Dejounte Murray #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 01, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana, 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Most Improved Player candidates: Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs</h2>
<p><strong>2020-2021 Stats: 15.7 Pts, 5.4 Ast, 7.1 Reb, 1.5 Stl, 0.1 Blk, 45% FG, 31% 3pt, 79% FT</strong></p>
<p><strong>2021-2022 Stats: 21.0 Pts, 9.3 Ast, 8.3 Reb, 2.1 Stl, 0.3 Blk, 46% FG, 32% 3pt, 79% FT</strong></p>
<p>Dejounte Murray is currently in the midst of a career year across the board. The sixth-year guard has capitalized on the increased workload that has been placed upon him due to DeMar Derozan’s departure.</p>
<p>According to Cleaning the Glass, Murray’s usage rate has jumped from 25.5 percent last season to 31.5 percent this year. He’s cemented himself as the clear-cut number one option of the Spurs.</p>
<p>As a result, his production has increased across the board, yet his efficiency has stayed the same. Murray’s biggest improvement has been his playmaking, increasing his assists average by nearly four assists from last year. He is currently sitting in fourth place in this category with 9.3 assists per game while also leading the league in steals with 2.1 steals per game.</p>
<p>His improvement has not gone unnoticed, as he was given the nod to play in his first-ever All-Star game this year. While the team’s direction shifted to a youth movement and saw the departure of a veteran star, the team’s success hasn’t varied much from last year.</p>
<p>With Murray at the helm, the Spurs have officially overthrown the Los Angeles Lakers for the final Play-In spot. As of now, FiveThirtyEight projects the Spurs to finish one game ahead of the Lakers for that final spot, which would give Murray and the Spurs a shot to make the playoffs.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 08: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 08, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana, NBA Power Rankings Week 21: Bucks surge, Lakers plummet, 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Most Improved Player candidates: Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers</h2>
<p><strong>2020-2021 Stats: 17.4 Pts, 6.1 Ast, 2.4 Reb, 1.2 Stl, 0.1 Blk, 45% FG, 39.5% 3pt, 85% FT</strong></p>
<p><strong>2021-2022 Stats: 21.5 Pts, 8.6 Ast, 2.8 Reb, 1.2 Stl, 0.1 Blk, 46% FG, 37% 3pt, 91% FT</strong></p>
<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers have undoubtedly been the biggest surprise of the season. They were firmly positioned as a top-six seed during the year and poised to make the playoffs before an unfortunate series of injuries to guys like Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley. Even so, making the Play-In tournament far exceeds the expectations that were placed on this team at the start of the year.</p>
<p>Leading the charge for the Cavs is their young star point guard, Darius Garland. Garland has gone from a solid starting point guard to a full-fledged star and even was named to his first All-Star game this year.</p>
<p>With the injuries suffered by Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio, Garland has been Cleveland’s lone ball-handler for most of the season. His usage rate went from 27 percent last season to 31.2 percent this year (according to Cleaning the Glass). As a result, he has seen his production increase across the board.</p>
<p>Garland is the engine that drives the Cavs’ offense. As a pick and roll maestro, he is able to carve up defenses whether is scoring himself or setting up opportunities for his teammates.</p>
<p>According to Cleaning the Glass, the Cavs are 8.0 points better per 100 possessions with Garland on the floor, which places him in the 95th percentile in the entire league. Simply put, Garland has grown to be an elite offensive player this year and is the main reason behind the Cavs’ success, which is why he should be named this year’s Most Improved Player.</p>
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