Almost a Most Improved Player Prediction.

Isaac Austin played 2 seasons after being drafted then went to Turkey to play. He ripped up their league to the tune of 22.3 points and 13.9 rebounds and got the call home. He won the award with the Heat, was traded twice the following season but posted better numbers that got him a good contract with the Magic. Then he regressed and got traded again for a guy called Ben Wallace from the Wizards, who traded him to Vancouver before he retired.

Now I don't know about injuries but I hear he is a legend in Turkey still!.

Gheorghe Muresan had numerous injury problems due to growth condition, which was a pity because his stoats were good. Interestingly he played in a game in march 2007 where he wasn't the tallest player. That was Sun Ming Ming listed at 7 feet 9 inches and weighing 350 pounds.

Sun was quoted that day as stating, Shaq meant, “little one” in his local and obscure version of mandarin.

I unfortunately couldn't confirm this but feel free to make “suns” jokes. A prize of absolutely nothing goes to the winner.

Dana Barros won the most improved award the same year he was an All Star. It was also the only year he started all 82 games and played over 40 min per game. He recorded 20.6 points per game, 7.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Great year by any standard and soundly recognised by a nice big free agent contract from the Celtics.

After that he never started consistently, his scoring dropped to 13 points per game, assists to 3.8 and kept declining. Not a bad career considering this list and his short stature but no ring.

Don Maclean went from scoring 6.6 points per contest to 18.2 in his big year. Its also big because its the only year he played in 75 games. He started in 69 of those games that year, not bad considering he started in 38 the rest of his 7 year career.

Oh and he had a steroid scandal of some description that caused Charles Barkley to defend him by saying “I've seen Don MacLean naked, and he doesn't use steroids”.

Now I have no facts here however I'm sure Zach Randolph doesn't either but Chuck's been quiet on the issue!.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf bucks the trend, his production jumped when he started and got more minutes, it stayed high and he seems to have suffered no major injuries and started reasonably regularly.

He did create some controversy by refusing to stand for the national flag claiming it was a “symbol of oppression” and clashed with his Muslim beliefs.

The league suspended him for one game but compromised and allowed him to close his eyes and dip his head and recite a prayer whilst standing.

He is still active in his home town community and I cant find any real misfortune or bad luck, in fact he overcame tourettes syndrome to play Professional Sports.

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