The NBA season is getting underway and the best and brightest in the league are looking to make a statement. From the future stars in contention for Rookie of the Year to the guys coming off the bench looking to make an impact and even the league’s executives and coaches trying to get the most and improve their organization one step at a time.
One way teams make an impact sometimes comes from an unlikely star or two. We’ve seen it in the past, a guy comes out of nowhere or returns from a big setback and makes a name for himself. You go down the line, from Tracy McGrady and Gilbert Arenas establishing themselves as all-time great scorers to Paul George, Jimmy Butler and C.J. McCollum making a name in the league after their teams made moves to put them in a prime position to succeed. The Most Improved Player award is a good way to get a sense of who might be ready for the primetime stage in the NBA.
2016-17 NBA Preview
Most Improved Players
Winner: D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
2. Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
3. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
4. Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
Other nominees: Aaron Gordon, Rodney Hood, Kristaps Porzingis, Devin Booker, Marcus Smart, Doug McDermott, Karl-Anthony Towns.
Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell wins this award but by a slim margin, in our opinion. Russell is nowhere near finished loading but he is getting a better chance to succeed this season, as opposed to his situation last season. Under head coach Byron Scott, a man notorious for not giving young guys and rookies a chance, D’Angelo found his chances few and far between with limited minutes in the Lakers rotation. When Russell did get a chance to shine, he was often the brightest star on the court. His coming out party was a home game against the Brooklyn Nets back in February and he never looked back. His minutes immediate increased and so did just about every major statistical category.
Honi Ahmadian sheds some more light on D’Angelo Russell’s chances at winning the MIP.
The most improved player award often goes to a player who simply has more opportunities than he did the season before. No player will have that jump like D’Angelo Russell. The Lakers’ point guard’s rookie year was marred by Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour and a head coach who played him with the shortest of leashes. He still had success, becoming one of only three rookies 19 or younger to put up 16-4-4 per 36 minutes. Now, Russell will have full reigns over the Lakers’ offense, a much more efficient one led by Luke Walton. He has looked like a 20 points per game scorer in preseason and is poised for a breakout season.
Jabari Parker is another strong candidate to take home this award. His own teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo says that Parker is poised to land his first spot as an NBA All-Star this season. While many have eyes on the ‘Greek Freak’ occupying that role for Milwaukee, Parker can still be a nice slash to the basket compliment for ‘Point Giannis’ this season. He spent most of the last year trying to get himself back in the flow of things after missing most of his rookie year due to an injury. The Bucks were underwhelming last year but this season they’re poised to bounce back and Parker’s success is hinged to the Bucks progress.
Myles Turner is the starting center for the Indiana Pacers this year and presumably for many years to come. Last year as a rookie, the big man made strides as the season went on as a rim protecting stretch big man, a rarity in the league. He has a fascinating skill set and could end up being the second best big man out of the 2015 NBA draft behind Karl-Anthony Towns. With some new additions to the roster in Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young coupled with the Pacers star Paul George, defenses won’t be able to focus too much attention on Turner. Watch him feast while they sag off him.
