NBA's Most Promising Player Contenders: Lauri Markkanen and Jalen Brunson in a Tight Battle
NBA Most Improved Player frontrunner Lauri Markkanen, hailing from Finland, leads the pack at -285 odds. An NBA all-star, Markkanen shines over Jalen Brunson (+320) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+400).
In sports like NFL and NHL, the Most Improved Player frequent winner is a player returning from a major injury, but in the NBA, it's usually a young player experiencing a breakthrough season.
The top three contenders for the 2023 Most Improved Player award each have compelling stories, with two of them playing for new teams this season.
Lauri Markkanen -285
After an impressive freshman year at Arizona, Markkanen decided to turn pro. Scouts admired his ability to demonstrate slick guard skills and a deadly outside shot.
The Minnesota Timberwolves picked Markkanen seventh overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was then traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls, along with Zach LaVine, for Jimmy Butler.
Markkanen played 68 games as a rookie with the Bulls and made the NBA All-Rookie first team. Over four seasons with the Bulls, he averaged 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
The Bulls traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the 2021-22 season. He spent only one year in Cleveland before they traded him the following summer to the Utah Jazz. Markkanen was part of a lucrative trade deal that brought Donovan Mitchell to the Cavs.
Many expected the Jazz to trade Markkanen as soon as they could, and thought he wouldn't last a full season in Salt Lake City. However, after a standout season, including NBA All-Star honors, the Jazz will no doubt hesitate to part ways with Markkanen. He's currently recording career-high numbers in all major statistical categories, averaging 25.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, shooting 51.3% from the floor and 40.9% from 3-point range.
Markkanen averaged 14.8 points per game in his last season with the Cavs, but made a 9.5 point scoring increase this season with the Jazz. His significant scoring increase is the primary reason behind his status as the odds-on favorite to win Most Improved Player.
Jalen Brunson +320
Brunson joined the Knicks off-season, earning a lucrative four-year deal worth $104 million. For the first time in decades, the Knicks had a true point guard with Brunson. The Knicks struggled to attract quality free agents in the past, so it was a relief to their legion of fans that Brunson lived up to the hype.
In his first season with the Knicks, Brunson is averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He's become an instant fan favorite at Madison Square Garden and often hears chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" during home games.
Brunson was previously a backup point guard for the Dallas Mavericks for his first three seasons. He started last season with the Mavs alongside Luka Dončić. In his fourth year in Dallas, Brunson posted his best overall season numbers by averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Instead of playing second fiddle to Dončić, he departed for the Knicks in free agency.
Brunson's overall game has thrived with the Knicks, with the offense running through him as a true point guard. His scoring average jumped 6.6 points per game with the Knicks. He's also shooting a career-best 41.1% from 3-point range, while averaging a career-high in points and assists.
The Knicks have been playing well lately, which has positively affected the awards markets at DraftKings. Teammate Immanuel Quickley is now the betting favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award, and Brunson's Most Improved Player odds have improved to +320 after surpassing Gilgeous-Alexander as the second favorite.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +400
Widely known as "SGA," Gilgeous-Alexander was the betting favorite to win Most Improved Player for the first half of the season. However, his odds have slipped to +400 after the All-Star break.
Markkanen had a phenomenal season with the Jazz, and Brunson plays for the Knicks in the largest media market in the NBA, which is why they lead the betting odds. If Gilgeous-Alexander didn't play for a small-market team in Oklahoma City, he would receive more recognition for MVP and MIP awards.
The Canadian-born Gilgeous-Alexander developed into a multi-sport athlete in Hamilton, Ontario before playing one season of college basketball at Kentucky.
The 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Gilgeous-Alexander, got drafted by the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the LA Clippers in a draft-day swap for Miles Bridges and a couple of second-round draft picks.
As a beginner with the Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander played in all 82 matches, a feature few players manage nowadays. He made it to the NBA All-Rookie second team but played only one season with the Clippers before they traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire All-Star Paul George.
When many expected Gilgeous-Alexander to leave the Thunder during free agency, he surprised everyone by signing an extension instead. Despite the Thunder being one of the weaker teams in the NBA for the past few seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander was undoubtedly their best player on a young and inexperienced team.
This season, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fifth in the NBA for scores. He's averaging 31.2 points, 57 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Compared to last season's career high of 24.5 points per game, he's averaging a significant 6.7 more points per game this season.
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