Brandon Ingram has been named the league’s Most Improved Player, Andrew Lopez of ESPN tweets.
The Pelicans forward collected 42 first-place votes and 326 total points to edge Heat center Bam Adebayo, who picked up 38 first-place votes and 295 points. Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (12 first-place votes, 101 points) finished a distant third. A global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters voted on the award.
The seeding games in Orlando were not considered when the voting was conducted.
From the beginning of the season through the stoppage of play on March 11, Ingram averaged 24.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 4.3 APG in 34.3 MPG in 56 games. He was one of seven players to average at least 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals this season.
He will be a restricted free agent this offseason.
Ingram made 137 3-pointers in games played through March 11, which is more than he recorded in his first three seasons combined (127).
Ingram, who turns 23 on Sept. 2, was selected as a reserve for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in his first season with New Orleans after being included in the blockbuster, multi-team deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Ingram averaged 18.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.0 APG in 33.8 MPG in 52 games with the Lakers last season.
The Raptors’ Pascal Siakam won the award last year and finished seventh in voting this season. The full voting results can be found right here.
Ingram max contract could be $181 million
It doesn’t mean he will get 4 years max though
His injury caused by blood clots
I’m sorry but the disrespect to Devonte Graham is just too real! He literally came from not even having a real role on the team to being one of our best young players. The fact HE WASNT EVEN ON THE BALLOT is just highway robbery!
Luka should of won. ROY last year. Most improved this year. MVP next year
Nobody knocking Giannis off his perch for a few more seasons.
Meh. Even Jordan didn’t win every year even though he probably should have won like 8 MVPs from 1986-1997 and that is taking in account his baseball sabbatical as well.
Voters sometimes get tired of voting for the same guy every year. Whether that is fair or not is your call, but it is what it is.
And they won’t give it to Harden every year either.
Devonte Graham wasn’t a candidate because his shooting percentages were bad I think it was like 38 fg and 29 3pt. He was forced to take shots as hornets roster isn’t that good, they have nice pieces in him, Bridges and Washington but pretty much it. Rozier is alright but probably not gonna stay past his contract and monk I don’t think his future is that bright if he keeps playing like this
Graham was a candidate. He was 5th. Voters didn’t just choose from these 3. The NBA just listed the top 3 to build suspense for the announcements of the winners.
Besides, I think the real “most improved” winner should have been Christian Wood. Luka was already great, his improvement was not really that significant. He basically from a 4 bedroom house to a 6 bedroom mansion. Ingram and Bam both improved greatly, but they started out on a much more solid foundation. They improved from a 3 bedroom apartment to a 4 bedroom house. Wood improved from a 10 day contract guy to one of the hottest free agents of this offseason. He went from homeless to a house in the suburbs.
It really just depends on you definition of improved. I think the guys that start from less deserve more consideration for this award.
I would say Ingram makes the most sense, as he transitioned from a replacement level player to a well-balanced all-star that contributes on both ends. I feel as though Wood’s emergence was more a product of opportunity. That’s not say he didn’t improve, but he also didn’t really get a chance until this season
Fair point. And I don’t really hate that Ingram won it. He did make a big improvement. My problem is more of Doncic being involved here. He shouldn’t be in the mix with these guys, he is the MVP mix. This award should not be for the All NBA level guys.
Wood probably was a product of opportunity, but he did thrive with that opportunity much like Devonte Graham. Put either of those guys on the Lakers or Bucks before this year and they probably get 10 minutes a night, if that much. I just like the idea of rewarding a guy like Wood or Graham that will never make an ALl NBA team or probably never make an All Star Game with an award like this.
Totally agree about Doncic. It’s great to see the overlooked players receive accolades for their hard work and effort
Shocked Luka didn’t win since they put him in it, I didn’t think they would actually make him a candidate but when they did I thought he would win mip but I’m fine with any of Ingram, Luka, adebayo
Ingram deserved it. Contract time
Ingram actually made his jump late in a busted season, 2019 Lakers. But he did have a bloodstream injury to overcome, albeit one fixable with meds. MIP voters like injuries or whatnot.