Power Ranking the NBA's Most Improved Players in 2012

With each passing year, players league-wide share the common goal of finding ways to improve in this rapidly evolving game. 

For some, the pace cannot be met. The talent may be there, but the ability to adapt is not. Even through all of their strongest efforts, these NBA players cannot get better.

For others, improvements come in stages on the road to glory.

Whether evolving from nobody to somebody, good to great or even average to above-average, a group of players have taken sufficient strides to develop their game.

I have the list of who those players are—time to break out the power rankings.

Honorable Mention: Alonzo Gee, Guard/Forward, Cleveland Cavaliers

2011 Season Averages: 5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.7 spg

2012 Season Averages: 10.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.5 spg

Alonzo Gee has gone from an afterthought amongst NBA fans to one of the most promising young players in the league. With Kyrie Irving distributing the ball to him, it's hard to imagine this rise in production will halt.

What's most impressive about Gee's performance this season is that he's improved his level of play on both ends of the floor. While the statistical rise in his steals per game is fine evidence of such, watching him play is the only way to truly see his development. He's been tasked with defending some of the NBA's elite this year and has yet to back down from the challenge.

Alonzo Gee is a name to watch.

10. Jarrett Jack, Point Guard, New Orleans Hornets

2011 Season Averages: 8.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.1 rpg, 41 percent FG

2012 Season Averages: 15.5 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.0 rpg, 46 percent FG

While the New Orleans Hornets' first post-Chris Paul season has been quite disappointing, Jarrett Jack's play as CP3's replacement has been nothing short of phenomenal. In fact, the seven-year veteran is averaging career-highs in points, assists and rebounds.

While it's unclear if the 28-year-old will see many votes for Most Improved Player of the Year, he's actually one of the most deserving. When you consider the improvements across the board, a consistent rise that most other players cannot match, it's clear that he deserves consideration.

Jarrett Jack is back. Or is he just finally arriving?

9. Ersan Ilyasova, Power Forward, Milwaukee Bucks

2011 Season Averages: 9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.4 bpg

2012 Season Averages: 12.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 bpg

Ersan Ilyasova has come leaps and bounds since his first year in the league.

After showing flashes of brilliance in 2011, Ilyasova has turned those flashes into consistent production. With an increase in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game, it's become quite clear that Ilyasova is a quality player that will be around for quite some time.

With five games of greater than 15 rebounds, including a 29 point and 25 rebound performance against the Nets on February 19th, it's clear that star potential isn't out of the question.

8. Kris Humphries, Power Forward, New Jersey Nets

2011 Season Averages: 10.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 bpg

2012 Season Averages: 13.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg

Statistically, the change isn't dramatic. In watching Humphries play, though, it's clear that he is no more than a step away from being an elite power forward. After all, he's already one of the best rebounders in the NBA.

Now that he has a developing offensive game, the sky is the limit.

Humphries has eight games with at least 20 points in 2012. In 2011, where he played 27 more games than this lockout-shortened season, he totaled just three. If that's not a drastic improvement, I'm not sure what is.

7. Greg Monroe, Center, Detroit Pistons

2011 Season Averages: 9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 62% FT

2012 Season Averages: 16.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 77% FT

So much for a sophomore slump.

Greg Monroe has outdone himself in almost every way, upping his scoring, rebounding, passing and shooting totals after an up-and-down rookie campaign. He's also developed into one of the Pistons' locker room leaders, thus garnering the adoration of the passionate Detroit faithful.

The most impressive aspect of Monroe's improvements, however, has been his maturity.

While he's never been a Rasheed Wallace hot head, Monroe has shown a tendency to lose his focus when things aren't going his way. While this remains an occasional issue, he has tempered his frustration and developed into one of the most well-rounded big men in the NBA.

Monroe isn't just good, he's a future All-Star.

6. Marc Gasol, Center, Memphis Grizzlies

2011 Season Averages: 11.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 0.9 spg

2012 Season Averages: 15.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.0 spg

Marc Gasol has taken a leap from above-average to one of the better centers in the NBA. 

The younger Gasol has improved everything about his game, including his positioning on both ends of the floor and his shot selection. He's also a better low-post defender, continues to improve as a passer and has developed a role as one of the Grizzlies' locker room leaders.

While Gasol's rank on this list may not make it seem like he's appreciated, he most certainly is. His first All-Star appearance is evidence of such.

The greatest test for the Spaniard will be his ability to keep up this pace with Zach Randolph back in the lineup.

5. James Harden, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder

2011 Season Averages: 12.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 44 percent FG, 35 percent 3PT

2012 Season Averages: 17.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 49 percent FG, 38 percent 3PT

In James Harden's case, the numbers speak for themselves.

He has gone from a player with a promising future to Sixth Man of the Year candidate, producing at a level most teams desire from their starting shooting guard. The main reason for this rise in production isn't opportunity, but efficiency.

Harden is making a much higher percentage of his shots, combining a better feel for the floor with an heir of confidence that he lacked in previous seasons. While the 22-year-old still has room to improve, the strides he's made thus far cannot go unnoticed.

4. DeMarcus Cousins, Power Forward/Center, Sacramento Kings

2011 Season Averages: 14.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 0.8 bpg

2012 Season Averages: 17.4 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.3 spg, 1.3 bpg

DeMarcus Cousins still has issues with his body language and maturity. If we're talking about production on the basketball court, though, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more well-rounded player at the center position.

Despite his exclusion from most "best big man" conversations, Cousins has actually established himself as one of the best frontcourt players in the NBA. He currently ranks fourth in rebounds per game, as well as sixth in double-doubles.

Only Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Blake Griffin have registered more than Cousins.

He's also one of just 10 players currently averaging greater than both one steal and one block per game. So why isn't he elite?

3. Ryan Anderson, Power Forward, Orlando Magic

2011 Season Averages: 10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.5 spg, 39 percent 3PT

2012 Season Averages: 16.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.9 spg, 41 percent 3PT

Ryan Anderson has been a revelation in Orlando, establishing himself as the team's best player behind Dwight Howard. 

For those who believe Anderson is a "three-pointer or die" type of player, you're wrong. Anderson has become a much better rebounder and a much more mature defender. He's also cut the unnecessary fouls down, making himself a more available option for a rather thin Magic unit.

While some may argue that Anderson's game won't work come playoff time, he's actually found some of his best success against the league's best defenders. He's also become a true double-double threat, posting five in March alone.

2. Andrew Bynum, Center, Los Angeles Lakers

2011 Season Averages: 11.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 57% FG

2012 Season Averages: 18.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 59% FG

It's rare that a top-tier player makes drastic improvements, but when you consider that Lakers' center Andrew Bynum is averaging seven more points and nearly three more rebounds per game than he did in 2011, you realize every rule has an exception.

While Bynum has always had high expectations, as well as high-praise from his peers, no one could have predicted this outburst. Bynum is currently shooting just under 60 percent for the season, dominating opponents with over 18 points per game.

A major factor in this success is his dramatically improved low-post game. Between his mix of power and finesse, Shaq's claim of Bynum being the best big man in the NBA suddenly seems less outrageous.

1. Jeremy Lin, Point Guard, New York Knicks

2011 Season Averages: 2.6 ppg, 1.4 apg, 1.2 rpg, 1.1 spg

2012 Season Averages: 14.6 ppg, 6.1 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 spg

I'm not sure that anything even needs to be written about this. For journalistic purposes, however, I will do so.

Lin has gone from nobody to, arguably, the most well-known player in the NBA. While we could debate all the reasons behind this meteoric rise to fame, the fact of the matter is this: in only a year, Lin has gone from the last man off the bench to a nightly double-double threat. 

He's also a threat to lead the Knicks in scoring on a nightly basis, which is impressive in its own right due to the presence of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Throw in the infamous "Linsanity" period and there's only one conclusion to draw: Jeremy Lin is the most improved player in the NBA.