There has been a lot of talk about the NBA’s most improved players this season with one standout in particular dominating the spotlight. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks seemed like a lock to win the award at the start of 2017 but a major breakout from a rising star on the Denver Nuggets in the second third of the season could have the voters reconsidering who should win. Here is a look at the NBA’s most improved players so far this season.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
A lot of people will give the nod to Giannis Antetokounmpo as the NBA’s most improved player this season but a closer look at the numbers reveals that Jokic should be in the conversation as well. Jokic just posted the NBA’s best PER in the second trimester of the season as he averaged 21.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and shot 60.8-percent from the floor in 29.4 minutes per game. Those numbers are up from 11.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.7 minutes per game in the first trimester and the improvement has been so drastic that the Nuggets inserted him in to the starting lineup ahead of Jusuf Nurkic and then ended up trading Nurkic altogether. Antetokounmpo is the popular pick for the NBA’s most improved player award but the numbers show that Jokic definitely deserves to be in the mix as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak has been an absolute monster in his fourth NBA season, averaging 23.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. Antetokounmpo has averaged upwards of 35.0 minutes per game for Milwaukee this season and he is a big reason why they are contending for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo always had the talent but this season he is showing the world just how incredible his overall potential is as one of the most improved players in the NBA.
Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks
There were a lot of experts that completely wrote off Barnes when he signed a max contract with Dallas in the offseason but so far he has proven his critics wrong with an outstanding debut season with his new club. Barnes has averaged 20.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 three-point shot through 63 games, averaging just upwards of 20.0 points in each of the first four months of the year. The Mavericks have to be thrilled with the production of the 24-year-old and he should continue to improve as he becomes more comfortable with his new team.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Atlanta Hawks
The 24th-overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft had made steady progress throughout his first three seasons in the association and now he is in the middle of a breakout season in year No. 4. Hardaway Jr. has averaged 13.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in just 25.7 minutes per game but a closer look at his numbers reveals how much better he has become as the season has progressed. Hardaway’s numbers across the board are up since the All-Star break as he has averaged 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 three-point shots per game in eight contests since the break. Hardaway has settled nicely in to the Hawks lineup with an average of 30.0 minutes per game and his future is bright.
Otto Porter Jr., Washington Wizards
The Wizards are currently 40-24 and have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last two months. They started the season just 13-16 but are a healthy 27-8 since then. One of the reasons why the Wizards have been so good is the development of Porter Jr., who has given the team two essentials: three-point shooting and a third scoring option behind Brad Beal and John Wall. Porter is averaging 14.1 points per game, which might not seem like a ton, but his sharpshooting has been critical. He averages 2.0 three-pointers per game and his 45.6% from three has been the best in the NBA to this point. He’s also contributing 6.5 rebounds per game.
When you take a look at where he was, Porter has taking big steps forward. He shot just 36.7 from three last season while scoring 11.6 points per game and collecting 5.2 rebounds. His PER is a healthy 17.66 and he’s one of the main reasons the Wizards are battling for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Bet on all of the big NBA games this week at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
