Taken the wrong way, being named the Kia Most Improved Player could be interpreted as faint praise. Sure, winning the honor means you have had an exceptional season. But it also suggests that previously perhaps you weren’t worth celebrating.
Which isn’t entirely true. Often, at least in the NBA, improvement is as much a function of opportunity as effort, getting the chance to plummet to earth or fly high.
And out of all the NBA players who took significant steps forward this season, our choice for the most impressive climber is Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum, whose personal growth has mirrored the surprising 2015-16 season turned in by his team.
“I always knew at some point I’d be an impact player at this level, I just didn’t know when,” McCollum said. “It was more about being healthy and having the right opportunity. Once it came, I looked forward to it and I relished the opportunity to perform at a high level and help my team each and every night. So I always knew there was going to be a time I was going to be able to do this, I just didn’t know when.”
For the Blazers, McCollum’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. Last season, Portland finished 51-31, with McCollum fighting through a fractured finger and mostly serving as a backup to veterans such as Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Steve Blake. But an offseason exodus basically cleared the decks, and as he entered his third NBA season, McCollum became Portland’s starting two guard alongside Damian Lillard. Clearly, McCollum rose to the occasion, forming one of the NBA’s most dynamic backcourts alongside Lillard and helping the Blazers to a surprising 43-38 record (through Monday).
“I don’t know that he would be doing this two years ago,” said Portland coach Terry Stotts. “I think he learned a lot — the injuries obviously were a setback, but he’s gotten stronger, he improved his ball handling. He’s always been a scorer, but he worked extremely hard over two years. He watched Russ and Nic and he watched what Damian went through, and he learned a lot through that experience. This was his time. He was ready for it.”
McCollum’s numbers don’t seem to entirely be a product of his increased playing time. Sure, McCollum is logging 34.8 minutes per game, more than double the 15.7 he averaged a season ago. But he’s playing a bigger role in the offense while he’s on the court. McCollum has averaged 18.5 field goal attempts per 36 minutes, up from 13.5 last season, while making 42.1 percent of his 3-pointers (after shooting 39.6 percent in 2014-15). All that to say, McCollum’s 20.9 points per game this season is a far cry from the 6.8 ppg he posted last year. He’s also averaging career highs per game in assists (4.3), steals (1.2), rebounds (3.3) and basically every other major statistical category.
“I learned a lot more about the NBA game,” McCollum says regarding his leap. “Having been in our system for two years — this is my third year — I know our offense, our schemes defensively, how we like to guard pick and rolls, off ball screens, things like that. And just having a better understanding or our offense and running the point, being able to direct guys and put guys in positions, and play the two and understand each and everybody’s role. I think as you play in this system under one coach for long periods of time, you begin to understand what they’re looking for.”
McCollum isn’t the only player worth a look as the Kia Most Improved Player. Some other names for your consideration…
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors — It might sound ridiculous to discuss a guy who is both the reigning MVP and the probable next MVP as the Most Improved Player in the NBA, but Steph Curry has been doing the ridiculous all season long. He’s averaging a career-high 30 ppg from the field, up 6.2 from last season, and shooting a career-best 50-percent from the field.
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets — Averaging a career-high 21.1 ppg for the resurgent Hornets. He’s also averaging over more than 21 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal per game this season, joining only Curry, James Harden, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks — Still just 21 years old, “The Greek Freak” continues to grow in unexpected ways, as marked by his recent move to point guard. He’s averaging a career-high 17 points per game for a Bucks team that didn’t meet many expectations.
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets — After spending parts of three seasons with Portland, a move to Denver has done wonders for the swingman, who has posted a career-best 14.4 points per game average.
Jae Crowder, Boston Celtics — After coming to Boston from Dallas in the 2014 Rajon Rondo trade, Crowder has found a home as Boston’s most versatile frontcourt player. He’s averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors — Curry isn’t the only Warrior who stepped up his game. After signing a long-term contract extension last summer, Green has improved statistically in every category and become in many ways the facilitator for Golden State’s offense. He’s second in the NBA in triple-doubles (13), too.
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Editor’s note: As the 2015-16 season winds down, NBA.com’s writers give their picks for the various end-of-season awards.
Below is our schedule of stories:
April 5: Executive of the Year
April 7: Coach of the Year
April 8: Kia Most Improved Player
April 9: Kia Sixth Man of the Year
April 10: Kia Rookie of the Year
April 11: Kia Defensive Player of the Year
April 12: Kia MVP
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Lang Whitaker has covered the NBA since 1998. You can e-mail him here or follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.
