By Larry Rupp
The 2021-22 NBA season is in full swing and players are starting to establish themselves as true difference makers on both ends of the court. It’s not often we see the race for NBA’s Most Improved Player Award down to two players this early, but that is exactly what has happened.
Let’s take a look at the young pros that are pulling away from the rest of the pack.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (+160)
The Memphis Grizzlies may have had a tough start to the season, but this is a team that is starting to improve on a nightly basis. A lot of the credit for that has to go to star point guard Ja Morant, even after he went down for a few weeks with a knee injury. The 2019 first-round pick out of Murray State is the steam engine that makes this train move and his ability to make impact all over the floor has been putting the league on notice.
Of course, Morant has been this team’s leader far before this season. He led Memphis averaging 19.1 points last year to go along with 7.4 assists and 0.9 steals. However, he has taken things to a new level so far early this season. The 22-year-old is on pace to set career-high marks in all three of those statistical categories and also currently ranks within the top 15 NBA players in each.
Morant looks well on his way to earning the first All-Star nod of his career, which can be important in this race. It’s worth pointing out that five of the last seven players that have won this award made their first All-Star game in the same year. Keep an eye on the dynamic point guard and whether or not he can will this squad to its second consecutive playoff berth.
Ja Morant Airlines. pic.twitter.com/IazYsIwINg
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) November 19, 2021
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets (+350)
The only other player within striking distance of Morant is Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets. The fourth-year pro known mostly for his crazy dunks has become a legitimate every-night contributor. Bridges is finally starting to garner national attention as the second-best player on a team that has playoff aspirations.
The best argument that can be made in Bridges’ favor is the way he has been able to enhance his skills in almost every facet of the game. He currently has the biggest increase in scoring in the entire NBA, has been playing the most minutes he has ever played and is posting a shooting percentage that ranks well above the NBA average. The former Michigan State Spartan’s usage rate of 23.0 ranks second among the team’s starters behind only point guard LaMelo Ball.
Bridges has figured out that he can use his size (6-foot-6, 225 pounds) to bully smaller defenders in the paint and it is certainly paying off. His turnover percentage has dropped, and his shot selection has upgraded tenfold. Bridges has also worked a reliable mid-range jumper into his game that has allowed him to pump-fake opposing players and create better scoring chances. All things considered, the 23-year-old has a chance to challenge Morant and cannot be taken lightly in this conversation.
.@MilesBridges with the hang time ✈️#AllFly | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/P3aPSicp9o
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 20, 2021
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
