The NBA’s Most Improved Player
Devin HarrisIs there anyone in the League even close to challenging Devin Harris for Most Improved? Check out his hit list this season: Just 14 games into this season he’s given Phoenix 47, the Jazz 34, Toronto 30, Atlanta 30 and 33, and Detroit 38 - all in the month of November.
Devin’s 24.8 ppg dwarfs his previous best of 15.4 ppg last season, and he’s still dishing out more than six assists per game and coming up with more than a steal per game. His explosion this season already has the Nets saying he’s untouchable.
The only guy we think you can make a real argument for ahead of Harris is Danny Granger, who is absolutely killing it as well. His 24.7 ppg crushes his career average of 14.4 ppg.
Other candidates: Ronnie Brewer, Paul Millsap, Spencer Hawes, Troy Murphy, Thad Young
Is Devin the Most Improved Player in the NBA? Who else should be in the discussion?
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Richard Wellner says:
No way.
Look for Nate Robinson to lock up the most-improved spot as the season progresses.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Lady Luck says:
I hate voting for season awards this early in the season, so I will say that Devin Harris is the early leader. Followed by Granger and then Milsap. All three are off to a phenomenal start, but we have so much of the season left that anyone can take over the race. Devin might end up having a bad December and January then the conversation will be over.
Dallas must be kicking themselves. I love Jason Kidd, and he’s playing pretty well this season. But they said that they wouldn’t part with Devin for good reason. Seems as though they should have tried to ship out Jason Terry, Stackhouse, hell anybody else on the roster outside of Dirk to get Kidd and keep Devin.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
sam says:
trevor ariza could be a candidate, but definitely no where near as close as devin
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Dime Magazine says:
I agree that Ariza can make a serious run at it, especially with more tick. No way Devin keeps scoring like this for the rest of the season right?
- PC
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
JCARR says:
Devin as of right now. But granger is the face of the franchise and has shown that he has what it takes to become perenial all-star in years to come.
The nets got the best of dallas deal. Harris has so much upside.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Scott says:
Granger and Harris look like they’ll be the front runners if they stay consistent, and both guys seem to have found their mentality to do that. I would love to see Millsap be in that mix too, and he probably could, but his minutes will definitely decrease when Boozer comes back. Although, for some reason I think Millsap could be a better option to start, he just seems to be a guy who you can count on night in and night out, nothing against Boozer, but if it was me, I’d prefer Millsap.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
isotope says:
Duhon’s name should be mentioned as well.
5.8 PPG to 11.6
4.0 APG to 8.5
38 FG% to 42
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Richard Wellner says:
Good point, isotope.
It is Duhon who should and WILL win this award. He is the man right now.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@Lady Luck
Granger hasn’t improved that much. He’s just getting more shot attempts with Dunleavy out. He was doing last season what he’s doing this season. It’s just that now people are starting to take notice since the Pacers have made it clear he [Granger] is their leader.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Junio says:
Why can’t I EVER see anybody talking about Nenê??
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Richard Wellner says:
Because Nene is a homo
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
SayItAintSo says:
Yeah, I think anyone on the Knicks is a good call. A healthy Nate-Rob or Duhon is hitting at a steady clip now.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
bigdoggchad says:
Junio just gonna say that NENE needs to atleast be mentioned. Leading the L in FG% an absolutly made Bosh and O’Neal look silly last night with his spin and up n under.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Taylor says:
NENE come on man he’s half the reason the nuggets are winnnig and don’t miss Camby
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Scott says:
As much as I understand why people may feel like ‘anyone on the knicks is a good call’, consider the way Harris especially and Granger to a degree have been leading their teams to W’s. I don’t see the same in the Knicks players, they seem to have upped their numbers, but have any of them really taken that squad on their back like Harris has. Granted VC has been scoring too, but when you watch the game and highlights, its pretty clear who is willing the Nets to win and have an impressive record for that very rough roster.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
As of today I’d go Devin Harris, Millsap, Duhon, as the front runners with Hawes, Thad Young and Ariza as the wild cards.
The only reason I do not have Granger on this list is because like I said earlier he hasn’t really improved. His scoring is up 5 points but his rebounding and steals are down, his turnovers are up and assists and blocks is about the same. Of course this could all change. The season is early.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Mamba says:
D Harris is sick right now - watching Granger last night was cool, he can play, effortless 3’s,
For right now have to go with Harris, long season ahead
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
calvin brodus says:
For real, Nene is killing it this year. I follow the Nuggets real closely and I can assure you that up to this season, Nene has either sucked, or been MIA. In terms of improvement, there is no question that Nene is booming. Dude has gone from zero to hero. I haven’t always been in Nene’s corner. I hated on his long term contract, and I was always hoping the Nugs might be able to dup some team into taking him. No Mas. We need to keep that dude.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Flip says:
Andris Biedrins has to be mentioned. His rebounding this season is off the charts and he has become a more than decent center.
The award will still go rightfully to Devin, tho.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Mark says:
all I got to say is Ramon Sessions - 33mpg 15ppg 6apg 1spg
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Kobeef says:
You need to keep in mind that Harris is getting lots of touches with NJ’s weak cast. There are a lot of players in the league that could average 24 if they got 20 shots a game.
Duhon is really transforming as a player - which is really what most improved means. He went from being 3rd string PG to averaging 15 (!) assists per game over his last 3 games…sick. D’Antoini’s system is making Duhon and Lee - who are solid but not spectacular players - into stars.
I’d also throw in a vote for Nene. Nene and K-Mart seem to be playing off each other really well and Nene as effectively replaced the DPOY…nobody saw that coming.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
Lady Luck says:
Good point regarding Granger. That’s why I say the season is still early. Plus I haven’t really seen the Pacers play this season but Granger always has strong games which gets him more coverage.
I also agree that Nene can also be in the conversation. He is on my fantasy team and he has been putting up consistent numbers all season. He also looks like he is in great condition. Billups is only going to make him better.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Is it possible to be the most improved player coming staight outta college, if so it’s OJ and Rose but since they can’t win it I’ma go with Stuckey……Just kidding JR Smith…….Just kidding(x)2, it’s Devin.
@Post#11
lol
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Celts Fan says:
barring injury, this is over already.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Amar says:
I’d say that Harris and Granger are the top 2.
Following that you’d have to put in guys like Nene and others. I wouldn’t call Brewer or Millsap even the most improved on the Jazz, that would go to CJ Miles who went from ‘Sloan doghouse’ to ’starter’ this year. he’s not putting up a lot of stats, but it’s a lot better than he used to — hence, improvement.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Scott says:
@ post 21 - Kobeef
I find it hard to believe that its THAT easy for any player to get 24ppg on 20 shots per game. A dude would have to get to the line, drop 3’s or hit more than 50% of his shots, either way, if a guy is bringing home 24ppg on 20 shots per game, that’s efficient.
I understand your homer way of thinking. But lets be realistic, did anyone think the Nets would do anything this year, I’m pretty sure everyone thought they’d be basement dwellers for this season, so his leadership is showing. Because we all know that VC is no one’s leader. And no one is going to be handing out a coach of the year award to Lawrence Frank. Stats are one thing that can be looked at, but when you go to a mid-level talent one year to a guy leading his team to an impressive record (even early on) it says something about his growth as a player, and as a leader.
For a league that considers MVPs generally due to their teams success, I can’t see the Nets early success not helping Devin’s rep/chances.
I realize I sound like a big homer for the Nets and Harris, but being from Toronto, the Nets are the last team I’m rooting for. And still Devin Harris has made me a believer.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Chaos says:
Harris and Granger leads the voting but afterward i say
Millsap, duhon, nene, brewer, hawes, Robinson…
Harris and Granger got the chance to be focal points of the team while with duhon and robinson are now in the seven seconds or less which plays to their strengths. the rest came back to the same system and are excelling. harris, granger, brewer, nene (off of surgery), hawes, millsap. look at nash after d’antoni left. he looks nowhere like the 2 time mvp.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
E$ says:
kind of early for this……
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
DJ Go Go Gomez says:
Why does Most Improved always have to be who’s uped their scoring the most from the year before??? He’s a PG. His assists haven’t jumped up. Neither has his steals. So most improved scorer? Sure, why not. Most impproved overall?? I say it’s too early in the season to tell.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Rizwan says:
John Salmons
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
GEE...Break ya concentration, murda ya camp says:
Greg Oden lol.
He went from not playing at all last year so anything he does is an improvement.
Naw isn’t dude being counted as a rookie this year?
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
RJ says:
It really is too early to be talking about this. But if Harris can keep this pace up and at the same time pull the Nets to a respectable record by seasons end, then he should run away with the award.
But Granger really has stepped it up and should be in the mix as well. Now only if he can get more touches when the game is on the line…
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
ERIC says:
Devin Harris wouldnt have put up these kind of #’s in Avery Johnson’s OR Rick Carlisle’s offensive systems. Unfortunately, he had the shackles on in Dallas and wouldnt have been able to realize his full potential.
Just look at Steve Nash’s #’s in D’Antoni’s system vs his time in Dallas and his #’s under Porter
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Octopus Jonny says:
I’d agree on Ramon Sessions if he played more than 10 games last season and if his numbers were really that hefty this season compared to what he did in limited games at the end of last season. The last few games of the season Ramon put up retarded stats and he will have his moments this season as well…but most improved? His game is still roughly the same as what we got a glimpse of last year. He still plays a bit too fast at times and makes rookie-ish mistakes.
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Skywalker says:
the rate of improvement from last season by Harris is unreal. he was a player with potential last season, now he’s a star - massive jump - if he keeps it up he gets MIP easily
Danger was already getting great numbers last year and was already a star. just doesn’t get any recognition cause he plays in Indy.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Dave says:
I think Nene is a great choice