Most Improved player

Since this is the first ever season of what we know will be around for a long time, The NSL.

Obviously that makes it somewhat difficult to have a most improved as there is no previous season to go off, but this write up will be based on a combination of a few things.

If a player was traded and with the new opportunity significantly improved on their performance.

Players that out performed how they might have been peg holed or where they were drafted, or players that have been around for some time and really improved on how they have been seen for recent years of their career.

Goran Dragic

The dragon had bounced around the league a few times this season. Being drafted by Denver, then traded to Sacramento, then moved on to Minnesota and then finally landing at Detroit.

The final move seems like a great one for the Pistons, as Dragic performed better at Detroit than he did at any of the previous teams.

He played 25 games with Detroit and have averages of:

MIN:33  FG%:42  3P%:37  PPG:22.2  Ast:5.8  Reb:3.1 Stl:1.4 Tpg:3.4

Anyone averaging over 22 points per game for a team is having a solid team. However the amount of times he got passed around might indicate his value was slipping or other GMs weren’t too high on him. The Dragon has shown he still has it and helped carry Detroit to the playoffs.

Josh Richardson

Richardson who spent the whole season with the Houston Rockets, has always shown plenty of potential and i remember in the NLL days how early and high Ben was on him and we can all see why now.

Richardson had been somewhat typecast as a good teammate and a good role player, defending and doing the little things when he is needed.

This season however Richardson has ended up the Rockets leading scorer, with 21.9 points per game. Granted they did trade away KAT but Richardson was only 0.1 behind KATS 22 points for the season.

Richardson averaged:

MIN:34.7  FG%:45  3P%:38  PPG:21.9  Ast:3.9  Reb:4.1 Stl:1.7 Tpg:2.1

Clearly Richardson has proven he is a lot more than a role player, these stats are looking more like a franchise pillar, hence his name being mentioned in the most improved. Also Richardsons plus/minus was almost double any other nominated player on the list.

Markelle Fultz

Fultz, who was all the talk when he went number one in the 2017 rookie draft, he looked to have all the tools, then im not quite sure what happened. Granted he had his share of injuries, but it also seemed like the MonStars had stolen his talent.

It appears as though he has stolen it back which is great to see for the young man.

He was able to play ever game this season for the Magic, and broke in to the staring line up for 57 of them. Great signs.

He had season averages of:

MIN:28.7  FG%:41  3P%:19  PPG:12.5  Ast:4.9  Reb:3.2 Stl:1 Tpg:2.1

Obviously his percentages are not great, and the questions about his range still apply and i know these stats dont compare to the two listed above, but seeing as Markelle has barely been able to take the court for whatever reasons, it is just great to have him consistently producing.

Zach Lavine

Lavine has always had a very high ceiling with his effort scoring abilities and was held back with some bad injuries earlier on in his career.

However Lavine seems to really be turning in the a star.

You would only have to tune in to the Golden State GM briefly to know how much of a fan they are of him, and understandably aswell.

Lavine finished the year 12th on the league leaders in points per game and almost all those ahead of him are bonafide all-stars.

Lavine didn’t just score theball, he contributed across the board with season averages with GSW of:

MIN:33.5  FG%:46  3P%:37  PPG:26.2  Ast:4.8  Reb:4.3 Stl:0.9 Tpg:2.2

Clearly really efficient production and low turnovers.

Just looking at the production its safe to say that Lavine taken with pick 55 in the league draft is nothing short of a steal. He has definitely outperformed a lot of those picked before him.

Javale McGee

Javale has been around for some time now and has a highlight reel worth watching for good and bad reasons.

Regardless of that Javale has carved out a nice season for the powerhouse Chicago Bulls.

He has averaged:

MIN:30.4  FG%:71  3P%:0  PPG:9.4  Ast:1.2  Reb:11.2 Stl:1.6 Blk:1.7 Tpg:0.8

Obviously McGee isn’t on the roster to score, but he is there for his defence and to clean the glass, which he is doing very well.

I know those stats don’t jump off the page, but considering McGee was drafted in the league draft with the 239th pick, it is phenomenal production for anyone, let alone for someone who started 70 games and was a big contributor to one of the best teams in the league.

Honourable mentions:

Nikola Vucevic - Great production from he veteran, but these kind of numbers are what we have come to expect from him.

Jayson Tatum - I had to mention him as he is turning into a star before out very eyes.

Devin Booker - Amazing season for the young guy, but like Vuc, this production is now expected.

Kyle Kuzma - KK is turning out to be someone of a glitch player and produced for Laddas all season.