Most Improved Player – Victor Oladipo
Honestly, I don’t think this one is all that hard to predict. Although fellow finalists Clint Capela and Spencer Dinwiddie had awesome seasons that saw them hold much more value than a year ago, neither of them took the significant leaps and bounds that Victor Oladipo did.
Oladipo went from an afterthought in Oklahoma City to a bona fide star in Indiana. He was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team and led an Indiana Pacers squad that nearly everyone thought would be among the league’s worst into the playoffs. Had it not been for the Cavs’ late season slump which saw them falter to the fourth seed, Oladipo and Co. very well could have advanced to at least the second round of the playoffs.
Oladipo put up career figures in nearly every statistical category, including points (23.1), field goal percentage (47.7), 3-point percentage (37.1), rebounds (5.2), assists (4.3) and steals (2.4). He was also named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team. He looked like an entirely different player from the year before and elevated the Pacers to unforeseen heights.
Some may argue that Oladipo’s improvements came more due to an enhanced opportunity than because of personal development, but that’s inaccurate. The move to Indy certainly helped him, but there’s also no denying the work he put in to better his craft. Between such astounding individual achievements and the fact that Oladipo took his team to such great heights, he should be the runaway winner for the Most Improved Player Award.