The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Four Jazzmen who could contend for Most Improved Player Award in ’18-19

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 2: Dante Exum #11 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz are seen during a preseason game. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 2: Dante Exum #11 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz are seen during a preseason game. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with Royce O’Neale #23 during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with Royce O’Neale #23 during Game Six of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Royce O’Neale

Like Ricky Rubio, Royce O’Neale is a player who upped his game significantly throughout the 2017-18 season. He went from a complete unknown to a bona fide rotation player, who had good offensive flashes and was an elite defensive force.

He’s still widely unknown, but that sets him up nicely to compete for the Most Improved Player Award. In most cases, the award recipient is someone who kind of comes out of nowhere, defying all odds to string together an unforeseen impactful season. With a full year of NBA experience and a strong offseason under his belt, that seems exactly the kind of year that O’Neale could potentially put up next year.

Rather than have to fight and scrap for a mere roster spot or place in the rotation, O’Neale will immediately start the year as an established part of Utah’s battle plan. That should help him get off to a fast start and immediately be a key player. 3-and-D players are highly coveted in this league, so if O’Neale can up his 3-point shooting and therefore have more of an offensive impact while maintaining his defensive prowess, there’s no question that he could end up being an absolute stud for the Jazz.

The kind of stud that turns heads and raises eyebrows in consideration for Most Improved Player.

To be fair, O’Neale has a long ways to go to be considered for the award. He’d need to not only get significantly better this offseason, but he’d have to command a much bigger role. When Ricky Rubio went down in the playoffs last season, he certainly did that, logging an average of 30 minutes per game in the series against Houston.

If he puts up those kind of minutes and increases his scoring ability, it’s entirely plausible that he could find himself in the MIP mix.

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