Over the years, some big names have won the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award. With the exception of Dyson Daniels, who won the award due to an incredible jump in production from 2023 to 2024, the likes of Ja Morant, Lauri Markkanen and Tyrese Maxey all won the award after landing the first All-Star callups of their respective careers.
In that sense, players who were logically taking the next step in their development won the award, rather than players who, almost unsurprisingly, would have improved significantly compared to the previous season. That’s what ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel said during a recent segment with Tomer Ezerli.
“It’s really hard for me to look at this award and look at it with a straight face because I think it’s ridiculous. I think this award is just a joke and I think we need to split it into the most improved first team and the most improved second team. And whether it results in there being some type of incentive in their contract, maybe some type of stipulation where maybe they can sign over the mid-level exception to qualify for it,” he said in a post on X Buy According to said. Clutchpoint.
The logic is simple. Instead of the MIP Award being given to a first-time All-Star almost every year, a First Team and Second Team would at least ensure that other stars who have substantially improved get recognition for the award.
Siegel mentioned stars like Ryan Rollins, Colin Gillespie and Anthony Black, who all deserve recognition due to the degree of their improvement. For example, Rollins averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game for the Milwaukee Bucks, increasing his numbers by 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds and assists per game each.
Gillespie averaged 5.9 points and 2.4 assists and rebounds per game last season, but he is averaging 13.6 points, 4.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Phoenix Suns this campaign.
Ultimately, Black produced 15.7 points and 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, going up from 9.4 points and 3.1 assists per game. All three of those players may be substantially improved compared to Jalen Duren, who is the bookies’ favorite to win the award this year.
However, they’re unlikely to actually win it from Duren, who effectively sealed it with the first All-Star appearance of his career.
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