Taking a look at the list of the most improved NBA players this season, it’s clear that the three best candidates have all buoyed their team’s chances as a result of their growth. Because of their performance, they’ve helped their squads emerge as true NBA Championship contenders.
Here’s a look at this year’s race for the Most Improved Player of the Year:
1. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
This is the almost-certain winner of the Most Improved Player Award in 2015. Butler shot under 40 percent from the field last year but he’s at 46 percent this season, all while playing extended minutes for a contending team that has endured injuries to both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah at various times.
Butler averaged 13.1 points per game last season and he’s all the way up to 20.6 this season, as he’s been asked to play more minutes than anyone else in the league. Butler remains a top wing defender, so it’s not as though his offense is hijacking his defense. He is entrusted with a lot of responsibilities by head coach Tom Thibodeau, but he can take them on.
He’s a less imposing version of what Kawhi Leonard is for the San Antonio Spurs and he’s had a remarkable season for Chicago. He’s slumped a little bit in January (his worst month so far) but it’s no coincidence that the Bulls struggled to start the month, too. The fact that Chicago is talking about paying him a max contract shows just how far he’s come in so little time.
2. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
It is true that Green’s 11.5-points-per-game scoring average and his 7.9-boards-per-game rebounding average are not jaw dropping statistics. However, the value of Green lies well beyond numbers. Steve Kerr, his new head coach, has openly said how crucial Green is to the Warriors. He takes on the toughest defensive assignments and yet doesn’t allow that to affect him negatively at the offensive end of the court.
Green is also a fine passer, averaging nearly four assists per game. Facilitating ball movement and keeping the Warriors’ offense functioning smoothly are important ways in which Green lends cohesion to Golden State’s roster. He is kind of a traffic cop who puts everything in place. The Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, get all the attention in the San Francisco Bay Area, but Green has been instrumental in this team’s tremendous first half of the season.
3. Dennis Schroeder, Atlanta Hawks
The reason Schroeder stands out as a Most Improved Player candidate is not necessarily that his 2015 has been so good but rather that his 2014 season was so bad. Schroeder averaged only 3.7 points per game, 1.9 assists and hardly any steals. He hit only 67 percent of his free throws and 38 percent of his field goals. This season, you can see the huge improvement in Schroeder’s game. He averages eight points per game, 3.3 assists, and 0.9 steals (basically one per game) and generates a PER of 14.00. He now makes 76 percent of his free throws and 44 percent of his field goal attempts.
The former first-rounder has been a highlight on the Hawks second unit and one of the reasons Atlanta has been so strong has been their depth. If he keeps this up, he’ll get some votes.
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
Who doesn’t love The Greek Freak? The Bucks have been playing well above expectations and to the surprise of many, they are in line to get a playoff spot in the East – even with first-round pick Jabari Parker out for the season. One of the reasons has been the improvement of Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak only averaged 6.8 points per game last season but is at 11.7 this season. His rebounds are up by nearly two a game, from 4.4 last season to 6.1 this season. In terms of shooting, he’s hit just under 50 percent of all field goal attempts compared to 41.4 percent last season. Given the gigantic strides he’s made, he’s a big reason the Bucks are hanging in there in the East.
