Every season has a few players who find their groove and dramatically improve in front of the world. Although, this season has a class as stacked as we’ve seen in recent memory for the award. Now, let’s look at the candidates, and their cases:
Frontrunners
Brandon Ingram
Ingram was one of many young Lakers players traded in the Anthony Davis trade, and Ingram has made the Lakers look silly for trading him, and keeping Kyle Kuzma.
Ingram has excelled with an increased workload on a team full of young talent. Even though Ingram has improved his 3 point shooting, as well as his rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He has averaged almost 7 more points, and his free throw shooting has increased by almost 20%.
Bam Adebayo
Adebayo was much of mystery prior to the season, and all of a sudden he appears to be a building block for Heat’s future. Averaging 11 minutes more, his production has improved tremendously.
Bam has increased his rebounding by about 3 more per outing. His scoring has increased by 6 points per game, and he’s averaging 5 assists per game as a big man. He averages over 1 steal per game as well as 1 block per game, and his versatility defensively has stopped the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and others.
In my opinion, he should be the frontrunner for MIP on a team that’s exceeded many’s expectations this season.
Devonte Graham
An even bigger surprise this season, Graham went from playing 15 minutes per game and 5 points per game to 34 minutes per game and 18 points per game. He also averages slightly under 1 steal per game, almost 8 assists per game, and has improved his 3 point shooting by nearly 9%.
While he is on a bad team and hasn’t won as many games as the aforementioned candidates, we have to imagine the season this guy would be having on a team with more talent, and an increased shooting percentage for his own self.
Honorable Mentions
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
In a typical year, SGA probably runs away with this award, since he’s improved in nearly every category. But, his competition for the award is so stacked, that it keeps him just out of the top three.
Pascal Siakam
As last year’s MIP winner, Siakam is likely out of consideration for MIP again. But, he has again improved his scoring by nearly 8 points, and nearly every other category.
Photo: NBA Twitter
