From Underdog to Eventual Star: The New Trend in “Most Improved Player” Voting
In recent years, fans have seen a switch in what kind players are being selected for the award of Most Improved Player in the NBA. The selection most notably stumping fans was in 2022 when Ja Morant won the trophy even though he was selected very early in the draft a few years prior. This award has gone to players ranging from the 1st overall draft pick (Pervis Ellis in 1992) and even a player who went undrafted (Darell Armstrong in 1999), so there is quite the history to the overall range of players chosen for Most Improved. Lately, voters have been showing favoritism to guys, such as Ja, who were expected to be All-Star level players, which is why they were drafted in the beginning of the lottery. In the years before 2020, there have been players selected for this award who were lottery picks, but now it has been happening at a much higher rate.
All four of these players were high lottery picks in their respective drafts. Both Morant & Ingram were 2nd overall selections. All four of them would have made an All-Rookie team if it weren’t for Randles’ injury in game 1 of his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Outside of Morant, interestingly enough, all three other winners were on their 2nd or 3rd team since joining the NBA.
When the Most Improved Player award was created in 1986, The selection criteria for it started out as somewhat vague, but over the years, the NBA provided more specific guidance. The award was intended to recognize an up-and-coming player who demonstrated significant improvement in their performance. During the first 34 years only 35% of the winners were lottery picks with the average draftee being around pick #20. These figures have skyrocketed in the last handful of years. Occasionally in the past, players who were either All-Rookie selections or lottery picks have won this award due to a late resurgence or an unlikely improvement. Although they had success as a rookie or were drafted in the lottery, their play after the fact was not up to expectations. Their eventual rise was a stark contrast to their recent play, awarding them the MIP. Such as:
Jalen Rose won in his 6th season on his 2nd team
Hedo Turkoglu won in his 8th season on his 3rd team
Victor Oladipo won in his 5th season on his 3rd team
Now in the last 4 seasons, the voters are giving this award to players who were drafted to be special and showed no signs of falling off! Now I do believe Lauri Markkanen deserves to be a rule breaker because he was on his 3rd team, plus a draft day trade, and won it in his 6th season. Markkanen bounced around the league by trades because he wasn’t able to put it all together in either Chicago or Cleveland. When he became a 1st time All-Star in his first season with Utah, it warrants the Most Improved Award. Markkanen, alongside the aforementioned players can serve as an acceptable example for the deviation from the norm. It is players like Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram who should not be winning this award. Even though they moved teams, it was a product of the Lakers making win-now moves, not because these players weren’t promising or meeting team expectations. I have no idea how the craziest selection of recent history, Ja Morant, won the award. Drafted 2nd overall, he won the Rookie of the Year award, consistently improved each season, and made an All-Star leap that anyone who watched could have expected. That is why a player is drafted #2, to become a franchise player - someone to lead a team to the playoffs, to try for the MVP not the MIP. These few selections should create boundaries for who not to vote for in coming years.
Growing up in the 2000s/2010s I was used to seeing individuals win this award because they were players who weren’t expected to be All-Stars when they were drafted. Yet against all odds became just that. All of these players have stories that fit the underdog characterization. Such as:
Gilbert Arenas was the 47th pick
Monta Ellis was the 40th pick
Zach Randolph was the 19th pick
Goran Dragic was the 45th pick
Jimmy Butler was the 30th pick
Giannis Antetekumpo was the 15th pick
Pascal Siakam was the 27th pick
This award should return to the likes of players who made unexpected leaps to stardom. These are the players that should be rewarded for their growth. I’m hopeful fan input can sway attention towards the up-and-coming players that truly deserve it and not the players who were expected to eventually become stars. When it comes to the current odds for the NBA’s Most Improved Player of 2023, players such as: Tyrese Maxey, Cam Thomas, Jordan Poole, Anfernee Simmons, Mikal Bridges and Alperen Sengun should get votes over the others. This awards’ fate has always been in the hands of the established media members, fingers crossed they can vote to fix this new trend.
