With the NBA and New Orleans Pelicans bracing for a possible lost season, it is not too early to wonder if the Most Improved Player Award is already decided.
It now appears that resuming play in June is the best-case scenario for the New Orleans Pelicans, and with the Center for Disease Control recommending no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, it is possible the season will be cancelled entirely, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
With 64 games already played for the New Orleans Pelicans, it is fair to wonder if All-Star forwards Brandon Ingram is already a lock to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
When Brandon Ingram was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a package for Anthony Davis, it looked like a fair trade. The Lakers got their All-NBA power forward and the Pelicans got a treasure trove of young players and picks for their superstar.
Now it looks like the Pelicans may have won the trade.
This is largely due to the play of Brandon Ingram, who has not only made his case as the most improved player in the league, but will also get some consideration for the All-NBA team and most certainly a max contract.
Ingram has been playing like an All-NBA forward, but there are several other players who have made a case for the Most Improved Player award in what could be a shortened season.
Here are the top five most improved players in the NBA this season. Does Ingram have it locked up? Let’s take a look.
With the recent news that Christian Wood has tested positive for the coronavirus, let’s first say that we hope the Pistons’ young center makes a safe and speedy recovery.
Now is also a good time to mention that if you need additional information about COVID-19, please visit the World Health Organization Website. Be smart and be prepared.
Wood’s unfortunate diagnosis ruined what was turning into a fairytale season. After going undrafted in 2015, Wood bounced around the league and was eventually waived by the New Orleans Pelicans before being claimed by Detroit.
With Detroit suffering myriad injuries and eventually trading Andre Drummond, Wood has gotten a chance to show what he can do in extended minutes and has made the most of it.
Wood has raised his career averages from 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game to 13.1 and 6.3, but it is what he has done since the Drummond trade that has opened eyes.
Wood is averaging 22.7 points and 9.9 rebounds since taking over at center for the Pistons, numbers that have Detroit going from wondering if they should re-sign Wood to if they’ll be able to.
Wood is set to be an unrestricted free agent and may have played himself into a big contract.
Let’s hope Wood recovers soon, as his electrifying dunks make him one of the most entertaining young players in the NBA. Take care, Christian!
The Miami Heat (41-24) have been one of the surprise teams of the NBA this season.
They were the fourth seed prior to the suspension of play, owing their rise to an eye for overlooked talent like Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn and because of the play of third-year big man Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo has been a revelation for the Heat, blossoming into an all-around big who can do a bit of everything for Miami.
He’s raised his averages in just about every category since last season, improving to 16.2 points, 10.5 rebounds. 1.3 blocks and 5.1 assists per game.
This is up from 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, .8 blocks and 2.2 assists from just a year prior, a huge improvement across the board.
Adebayo has turned into more of a playmaker with 5.1 assists, often finding open teammates and kicking out for 3-pointers, which Miami is hitting for the league’s highest percentage.
Adebayo has also emerged as a solid rim protector, has improved his overall defense and was voted to the All-Star team in just his third season.
No one saw this coming for the Heat or Adebayo, which is a testament to the team’s eye for talent and player development.
Adebayo has been a big part of Miami’s resurgence and will certainly get some votes for the league’s Most Improved Player award.
It seems like the Charlotte Hornets have been stuck in ninth seed purgatory for about a hundred years and not much changed this year, as Charlotte was tenth in the Eastern Conference when play was suspended.
The only difference this year is that the Hornets finally have some young talent to build around in forwards Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington, as well as one of the league’s most improved players, point guard Devonte’ Graham.
Graham has emerged from nowhere to become one of the best point guards in the Eastern Conference and it turns out all he needed was a chance.
Graham inherited the point guard position when the Hornets let star Kemba Walker leave in free agency, but he was hardly considered the point guard of the future.
Graham averaged just 4.7 points and 2.6 assists in his rookie season for the Hornets, which included just 46 total games and three starts.
After averaging just 14.7 minutes per game in his first season, Graham finally got his opportunity and he ran with it. He was averaging 35.1 minutes per game prior to suspension of play and he was making the most of them.
Graham raised his scoring average to 18.2 a game from 4.7 and his assists from 2.6 per game to 7.5, huge leaps in those categories.
But it’s Graham’s 3-point shooting that has really changed his impact. Graham shot just 28.1 percent from long-range on a paltry 2.6 attempts per game in his first season in the NBA.
This season Graham raised those numbers to 37.3 percent shooting on a staggering 9.3 attempts per game, which is good for fifth in the league.
Graham is one of those players who just needed minutes and confidence. There finally appears to be a future in Charlotte that does not involve the battle for the ninth seed.
When Oklahoma City traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook, it looked like a rebuild and few would have expected them to be right back in contention.
Someone forgot to tell Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The second-year combo guard has made everyone forget about George, as he is quietly putting together an amazing all-around season and the Thunder are one of the NBA’s best teams.
SGA has improved in nearly every category, raising his scoring average from 10.8 to 19.3 and his rebounding from 2.8 to 6.1 per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander has formed a potent pick-and-roll tandem with point guard Chris Paul, and his versatility allows the Thunder to play unconventional three-guard lineups that are difficult for teams to guard.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to guard multiple positions and rebound the ball well is what allows the Thunder to unleash their three point guard lineup that is one of the best crunch-time lineups in the NBA.
Gilgeous-Alexander has put up huge all-around numbers in several games, including a crazy 20 point, 20 rebound, 10 assist triple-double that has to rank as one of the most unique accomplishments for a guard.
Gilgeous-Alexander has evolved his offensive game around floor general Paul and the two have a chemistry that make them one of the best backcourt tandems in the league.
With a stout defense, efficient halfcourt offense and a knack for the big moments, the Oklahoma City Thunder is the team no one wants to see in the playoffs when and if the season resumes.
SGA is the biggest reason the Thunder have not missed a beat after trading their two best players.
With no offense meant to any of the great players on this list, Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans is the league’s Most Improved Player.
In his first full season for the New Orleans Pelicans, Ingram has developed into one of the top scorers in the NBA, raising his average from 18.3 to 24.3 points per game.
Playing in the shadow of LeBron James, no one really knew what the New Orleans Pelicans were getting when they made Ingram the prize of the Davis trade.
It appears as though the Pelicans knew what they were doing, as Ingram has improved in nearly every statistical category.
In addition to scoring, Ingram raised his total rebounds per game from 5.1 to 6.3 and his assists from three to 4.3.
The interesting thing is that Ingram has increased his scoring volume while being more efficient, as he is actually taking 1.1 fewer shots per game overall in his first season with the Pelicans.
Ingram has developed a killer instinct as a scorer and his year-22 numbers look eerily similar to a young Durant. Ingram has stepped up as the alpha-scorer for the New Orleans Pelicans, even with the addition of much-hyped rookie Zion Williamson.
Williamson may be getting all of the headlines, but it is Ingram that the New Orleans Pelicans turn to when they need a big bucket.
https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1236134081223487488
Prior to the suspension of play, Ingram had the New Orleans Pelicans poised to make a late run at the eighth seed and a much-anticipated first round matchup against the Lakers.
Unfortunately, we may never get to know what might have been in what is becoming the strangest NBA season in history.
What’s most important now is keeping the league and world safe in unprecedented times. We will have updates on the league and will continue to provide great New Orleans Pelicans’ coverage throughout the suspension.
Stay safe out there and let’s all hope we can get back to hoops and regular life soon.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.
*For the latest Most Improved Player odds, please visit the Action Network.