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They say all good things must come to an end.
This is the final edition of the Most Improved Player Rankings and I—
I’m sorry … I … told myself I wasn’t going to cry. (sniffle)
It’s been an amazing run here at the Most Improved Player Rankings. We’ve talked about donut races, wildebeests, and Andy Enfield’s wife. We’ve made fun of just about every basketball announcer out there and also Jim Nantz.
But now it’s finally time to get down to the business of naming the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
There are less than three weeks left in the NBA season. Three weeks. And I’m having a breakdown.
It’s up to me to rank the Most Improved Players in the league this season, but I might as well be tasked with coming up with the goofiest Lopez brother, the dumbest “Real World” contestant, or the craziest old lady on “The View.”
Here’s the thing: I just can’t decide which of the candidates have risen above the rest. There are so many players who have improved so much over the course of the season, it’s almost unfair to have to pick only one.
And yet I must. It’s not a charge I take lightly. I swore an oath when I took this column. Either that, or I’ve been watching too many episodes of Game of Thrones. (I’ve been proofreading this column in an English accent).
Either way, I decided to write down the case for each of the candidates. Because talking (or writing) is often the best therapy:
The case for Nikola Vucevic: The Vucevator began as a bench player in Philly and has become a double-double machine in Orlando, averaging 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds this season. He came from nowhere, and he’s become a solid young center with All-Star potential. He’s had some monster games, and ranks third in the league in rebounding.
The case for Omer Asik: He went from stiff to starter and incredibly productive big man, emerging as a rebounding virtuoso in Houston, averaging 11.6 per game. He was also a borderline All-Star and ranks second in the league in rebounding.
The case for Paul George: He’s everyone’s favorite, and has stepped up and become the alpha dog on one of the best teams in the East, and maybe one of four teams who wouldn’t get absolutely steamrolled by the Heat in the playoffs.
The case for Jrue Holiday: The Jruth arguably has had the best season of anyone on this list. He’s in the top 10 in scoring and assists, and has singlehandedly carried the Sixers this season, although not very far. And he was arguably the best player on this list last season, too.
The case for Greivis Vasquez: The Hornets made his case pretty well, putting together this montage for Greivis. It looks like a movie reel. You’ve got to admire their dedication.
The case for Kemba Walker: He went from adequate player on a crappy team to terrific player on a crappy team. He’s been a big-time scorer for the Bobcats this season, and without him, they probably would have won three games this season.
The case for Larry Sanders: He went from buried on the bench to starting and becoming one of the league’s best defensive players. His offensive numbers also have greatly improved, as he put up 24 points to go with 13 rebounds in a Monday win over Charlotte.
Honestly, all of these guys have a legitimate claim to the throne award. But only one will win. Unless two of them win, and it’s a co-Most Improved Player Award. But then they’d have to give out two trophies. So I think it’s just going to be one.
As it stands right now, one man has risen above the rest. I chose him because of how irrelevant he was last year, and how much of a force he’s become today.
You will find out his name soon enough. Actually, why don’t we just take a look now? Yeah, that sounds good. Well actually, let’s wait until the next line break.
On to the rankings.
It’s Week 2 of possibly the most ill-conceived bracket columns in sports history — the prelude, not the rankings.
Last week, we introduced you to Most Improved Player Madness with a special three-page blowout edition of the Rankings. I sense a lot of excitement out there about Week 2.
So without further adieu, we present to you the Most Improved Sweet 16! Let it fill your senses with indescribable excitement and joy!
To owners wise enough not to trust Amar’e Stoudemire’s knees who traded him at peak value, I applaud you. Both in real life and in fantasy, having Amar’e on your team is a serious injury risk. Those who have followed his career should not be surprised when hearing this report.
Here at the Most Improved Player Rankings, we’re known for our hard-hitting journalism. We’ve been told that we make Anderson Cooper look like Ahmad Rashad. Woodward and Bernstein still wonder how we found out about Greivis Vasquez.
So in that tradition, I decided to go ahead and interview our top candidate for the Most Improved Player award, Magic big man Nikola Vucevic.
It hardly matters that Vucevic told me that he’s never heard of me or the column, or that he responded with dead silence when I tried to explain it to him. What matters is, he agreed to do the interview below.
Read it, or risk being uninformed.
