Improving on a year-to-year basis is the key to a long and successful career in the NBA. Players enter the league and almost automatically and accept whatever role they are asked to handle with their new teams.
Sometimes this may mean a college star becomes a spark player off-the-bench, instead of a starter. Or an energy guy may be asked to defend the opposing team’s best player and give up a few points per game.
This happens often and it is also part of why we see players make huge improvements from one year to the next. For certain players, all it takes is another year’s worth of experience and growth while other players simply need a change of scenery and a new set of teammates.
There is a short list of players who have set themselves apart from the average and are on their way to the next level. Improvement can be quantified in many different ways.
These players may not yet be considered elite or All-Star level players, but some will be soon and their numbers do not lie. Each player has made gains in virtually every facet of the game while doing everything within his power to get his team the win every time out.
I have broken down who the most improved player is in all six divisions of the lague, and then I will tell you who has been the most improved player overall so far this season.
Let's go.
Atlantic Division: Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers
Widely considered one of the most improved players in the league, Jrue Holiday is an easy choice for the Atlantic Division.
In only his fourth NBA season, and still a mere 22 years of age, Holiday is emerging as the leader of a young Philadelphia 76ers squad. He has also been mentioned as an early candidate for the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
This season alone, he has increased his points to a notable 18 per-game while also increasing his assists and field goal percentage averages as well.
He does a little bit of everything and has stepped into his newfound leadership role nicely. He deserves a spot on the All-Star roster this year and may be the next point guard to cross into elite status if he continues to let the game come to him the way he has for the first 21 games this season.
Central Division: Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers
Normally, 30-year-old centers are not in the conversation for being the Most Improved Player in the NBA, but that is exactly the case for Cleveland Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao.
He is off to a solid start, leading the NBA in rebounding with a career high 14.9 per game. But this is not the only area where he has shown significant improvement. He is also averaging career-highs in points, steals, assists and free throw percentage per game this season.
Varejao has turned the corner offensively and has inserted his name into contention for a starting spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. He has kept the Cavaliers afloat while their young star in Kyrie Irving was injured and is not the one to complain about the situation he is in.
It would be difficult to find a more improved player than him.
Southeast Division: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats
Being a sophomore player playing on one of the worst teams in the league, Kemba Walker is steadily becoming the leader of a dismal, but potentially tough, Charlotte Bobcats team.
His development has been essential to the team, as they have already reached their win total from all of last year. However, since reaching that number, they have yet to win another game and are currently in the midst of a nine-game losing streak.
Anyone who has seen the Bobcats in action knows that this is not because of Walker’s play. He is a bright spot for this team and looks to be even better than what he was projected to be.
This season, he is enjoying career-highs in points, steals, assists, three-point percentage, free throw percentage and field goal percentage per game.
If Walker continues on his current rampage across the league, he will soon be in All-Star game contention and might even crack into top-five point guards in the league conversation.
Northwest Division: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
What can be said about the player the Oklahoma City Thunder chose to keep over James Harden? A lot.
Serge Ibaka is becoming a two-way force and seems to be evolving into a more complete player as each game passes. Ibaka was Defensive Player of the Year runner-up last season and looks even more dominating on the defensive end this season.
His blocks are always emphatic and he has vastly improved on his rotations when defending the post. Surprising to all of us, his largest improvement has been seen on the offensive end.
His points per game average is up 5.2 points from last season and this is while shooting an improved mark both from the free throw line and from the field. He has become the third scoring-option the Thunder needed and now many people are seeing the potential OKC saw when they offered him a contract before they did Harden.
There is no doubt he could be an All-Star in the Western Conference this season.
Pacific Division: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Another player in his fourth season and having great success this season is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
The main area he has improved is his ability to take games over. He goes on stretches where he is one of the most unstoppable players in the league and it is at these times that we all sit back and wonder how good he can be when he reaches his prime.
Many people forget he is still only 24 years old, even though it seems like he’s been around much longer. He is finally averaging 20 points per game and has also increased his assists average.
What impresses me most is his killer instinct when the game is on the line and his ability to get his team going when they are struggling to produce. To me, those are two essential signs of a star in the making and areas where players can show improvement outside of the box score.
Southwest Division: O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks
O.J. Mayo is the prime example of someone who simply needed new circumstances, different teammates and more playing time to show exactly what he is capable of doing out on the court.
Mayo has always been talked about as a player with great potential, but many wonder if he will ever reach the plateau of the elite. This season, he is well on his way to reaching that level.
He is scoring at his highest rate ever while also averaging career-highs in assists, rebounds and field goal percentage. He looks like a new player with the Dallas Mavericks.
With Dirk Nowitzki out due to injury stilll, Mayo has been given the reigns and has not let up all season. I look for him to be a possible All-Star candidate this season. He may have also found his new home in Dallas.
And the Most Improved Player Is...
Anderson Varejao.
No one can deny the production he has been putting up this season on a night-in, night-out basis. It really has been remarkable.
He is the farthest thing from flashy or attention-grabbing as a player, but he is consistent and works to make the game a whole lot easier for his teammates.
He is the early leader for this award as well as a starting spot on the All-Star team. Look for him to possibly join the MVP conversation if his numbers continue on this path and if the Cavaliers start making some moves in the Eastern Conference.
