Ja Morant makes good predictions and wins the award for Most Improved Player. The Grizzlies star beats Dejounte Murray (Spurs) and Darius Garland (Cavaliers) in the third award that the NBA has distributed after Best Defender (Marcus Smart) y the Rookie of the Year (with surprise from Scottie Barnes). A trophy that not only serves for Morant to continue writing lines on an ever-growing resume, but also to pay tribute in some way to the Grizzlies’ spectacular season: 56-26, ranked second in the Western Conference and best franchise record in its history.a, tied with that of the 2012-13. That course, Grit and Grind (Masrc Gasol, Mike Conley, Tony Allen…) went to the Conference finals for the first and only time in its history. This season, they are playing a tachycardic first round: they are 2-2 against the Timberwolves.
Morant has averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists, improving (for that reason the award) his numbers from last season (19.1+4+7.4). He has been the offensive leader of a charismatic team, masterfully led by Taylor Jenkins (candidate for Coach of the Year), young (24 years on average, the fourth youngest team in the best league in the world) and physically unbeatable. A small market whose project has been masterfully rebuilt after leaving behind its most glorious stage and relying on young people, draft rounds and some very judicious movement in the market to emerge even stronger than before. In fact, the second place in the West is the best in its history; in 2013, with the same record, they went up to fifth place.
The only doubt to award Morant the award was the games played: 57. The base has had some physical problems that his team, which has overcome injuries and casualties due to coronavirus without problem, has not suffered. The Grizzlies have recovered from both the point guard’s injury and that of other members of the squad and faces with optimism some playoffs that are a great test for the project and that, in one way or another, can already consider that it has finished this season with a resounding outstanding. They end as they end, the future for the team is fantastic and it will be led, of course, by a Morant who has always represented pure talent and he already won the Rookie of the Year award in his debut year (2020), and has been an All Star this year.
Special mention also goes to the other two nominees for the award, Dejounte Murray and Darius Garland, and even to Jordan Poole who did not make the short list of finalists but has had a fantastic season and is coming out in the playoffs. Murray has gone to 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists with 2 steals, leader of the NBA in this last section. Murray has made 39 double-doubles and 13 triple-doubles in 68 games and was a profile that he liked for the award, for being further away from stardom and belonging to a lower class of the competition, something that this award always tries to claim. Ditto for Garland (21.7 points and 8.6 assists), who has had a fantastic season with the Cavs.. The last recipient of the award was Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans. New edition and new winner. Good for Ja Morant.
