NBA Predictions: Each Team's Most Improved Player So Far in 2011
The NBA has awarded one player Most Improved honors every year since 1986.
The first recipient was Alvin Robertson.
Though only one person can win the award, every team has a player or two who could be considered.
Here is a look at one player from each NBA team who has shown improvement so far this season.
Boston Celtics
1 of 30
Rajon Rondo
Rondo's always been good, but this year he may be the best.
For the first time in four years, The Celtics need to be called the Big Four instead of the Big Three.
Rondo has increased his assists average to 12.1 and is snatching 2.3 steals per game.
Rondo has taken on the responsibility of leader, on an older, championship caliber team.
New Jersey Nets
2 of 30
Kris Humphries
After bouncing around the league for a few years, forward Kris Humphries has found a home in New Jersey.
In two years with the Nets, the former Golden Gopher has played good basketball, but this year, he's playing his best.
Humphries is scoring 8.9 points per game and 9.3 rebounds, nearly double his career numbers of 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.
New York Knicks
3 of 30
Landry Fields
It would have been Ray Felton, but he just got traded.
Landry Fields, though, is just a rookie, but as a second round draft pick, he's been better then anyone would have expected.
Averaging 9.9 points and seven rebounds in over 30 minutes per game, the rookie fields has been a hard working, consistent contributor at the two guard, becoming so popular in New York City that Spike Lee wears his jersey to every game.
Philadelpia 76ers
4 of 30
Jrue Holiday
In his sophomore season, guard Jrue Holiday has seen his minutes jump from 24 to almost 35 and his production jump as well.
Holiday is scoring 13.8 points per game to go along with 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals.
At just 20 years old, if Holiday can continue to improve at this rate, he'll be an All–Star by 2013.
Toronto Raptors
5 of 30
DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan has doubled his scoring average from his rookie year, scoring 16 points a game.
After competing in the Dunk Contest, NBA fans outside of Canada have become acquainted with DeRozan's athletic ability.
At 21 years old, DeRozan has a bright future.
Golden State Warriors
6 of 30
Dorell Wright
In his first season with the Golden State Warriors, Dorell Wright has increased his scoring from seven points per game to 16 points per game.
Wright is shooting just under 40 percent from three point range.
The Warriors may be at a do or die moment in their season, but Wright has found a home, becoming a favorite among Bay Area hoop fans.
Los Angeles Clippers
7 of 30
Blake Griffin
This one is fairly obvious.
Blake Griffin went from season ending injury last year, to NBA All–Star. It's hard to improve more then that.
Scoring 22.8 points per game and grabbing 12.5 rebounds per game, Griffin has given new life to a Clipper team too used to ridicule in the city of Kobe.
Already he is a superstar, and he'll keep shining unless he suffers another knee injury.
Los Angeles Lakers
8 of 30
Shannon Brown
Brown's numbers have stayed pretty consistent the last two years, but his role for the defending champion L.A. Lakers has been upgraded.
Brown is averaging close to a point more per game, 9.4, in 10 less minutes than Ron Artest.
Brown is an energy guy who comes off the bench for big shots and big dunks, right when the Lakers need them the most.
Phoenix Suns
9 of 30
Robin Lopez
Robin Lopez is no Brook Lopez.
Lately, however, Robin's been giving the Sun's solid minutes.
In the last 11 games, Lopez has averaged 11.4 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes.
In that time, the Suns have gone 9–2, winning their last four in a row.
Sacramento Kings
10 of 30
Beno Udrih
Yugoslavian Beno Udrih is playing more and scoring more for the 14–43 Sacramento Kings.
Udrih is averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals while sharing the back court with Tyreke Evans, making him one of the top players on one of the league's worst teams.
Chicago Bulls
11 of 30
Derrick Rose
This season, Derrick Rose has proven that he is one of the best players in the NBA, at any position.
Rose's scoring is up to 24.9 points per game, compared to the 20.8 points of last year. This year, Rose is also averaging 8.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.
More importantly, Rose has the Bulls sitting on 40–17 record with a real chance at coming out of the East this year.
At this time last year, the Bulls were playing for the eighth playoff spot.
Cleveland Cavaliers
12 of 30
J.J. Hickson
When the King left Cleveland, it was understood that someone would need to step up. J.J. Hickson was given the difficult task of trying to keep on of the worst teams in NBA history a float.
The Cavs as a team have been maybe worse then imagined, but Hickson is having a solid season.
In just his second year, Hickson is averaging 12.6 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Somebody in Cleveland has to do the scoring, but at least Hickson has not been crushed under the weight of all those losses.
Detroit Pistons
13 of 30
Rodney Stuckey
Rodney Stuckey has been consistent for the Pistons in the last few years, but has taken on a new identity this year.
However, while the team is in the midst of what will result in personal changes, Stuckey has emerged as team leader in points and assists.
Stuckey is scoring 18 points per game in Piston victories, showing that what was once Rip Hamilton's team, the Pistons, is now led by Rodney Stuckey.
Indiana Pacers
14 of 30
Darren Collison
Darren Collison must have learned a thing or two while playing with Chris Paul last year.
In Collison's first year with the Indiana Pacers, he has averaged 13.4 points, 5.1 assists, and a team leading 1.2 steals per game.
Skinny guys can ball too.
Milwaukee Bucks
15 of 30
Andrew Bogut
Unless Andrew Bogut's current injury turns into something serious, the former number one draft pick is on pace to play more games then he did last year.
For a guy who is yet to play a complete NBA season, that's an improvement.
With that said, this year Bogut is scoring less and rebounding more.
However, he is the league leader in blocked shots at 2.8 per game.
Dallas Mavericks
16 of 30
Rodrigue Beaubois
Guard Rodrigue Beaubois has only played in the last five games for the Dallas Mavericks.
Since he entered the lineup, the Mavericks have gone undefeated, winning their last five in a row.
Beaubois is a scrappy young guard who can penetrate the lane. In the 20 minutes per game that he plays, Beaubois has made it count, averaging seven points and three assists.
Houston Rockets
17 of 30
Kyle Lowry
When the Houston Rockets traded Aaron Brooks, it became clear the team was planning on moving forward with Kyle Lowry as the starting point guard.
The former Villanova Wildcat, Lowry has upped his scoring from a year ago to 11 points per game and also upped his assists to six per game.
Memphis Grizzlies
18 of 30
Mike Conley
I'm not sure nobody would have predicted that three years into their NBA careers, Mike Conley is a better player and more valuable asset then his friend Greg Oden.
Conley is the starting point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.
He is scoring 13.8 points and dishing 6.5 assists per game.
Conley has shown steady improvement in each of his three seasons.
New Orleans Hornets
19 of 30
Marco Belinelli
Marco Belinelli has been somewhat of an NBA journeyman in the last four years.
Starting 51 games with the Hornets, Belinelli has not been a superstar, but he's been a solid addition.
Chris Paul always handles the ball anyway, so Belinelli's 39 percent three-point shooting clip at the two guard has been a welcome pressure release.
His near 10 points a game is about three points better than last year.
San Antonio Spurs
20 of 30
Gary Neal
Gary Neal took the classic post college trek through Europe in 2007, but only because no NBA team wanted him.
Now, Neal is one of the best three point shooters for the league leader in wins, the San Antonio Spurs.
Neal is scoring about nine points a game and playing over 20 minutes per game.
Not bad for the rookie, considering he wasn't drafted.
Atlanta Hawks
21 of 30
Josh Smith
With the loss of natural leader Mike Bibby, Josh Smith has added responsibility to help lead the Atlanta Hawks.
It shouldn't be a problem considering Smith's scoring is up almost two points from last year, to an average of just under 17 a game.
All the while, the high flying Smith remains one of the NBA's best defensive players.
Charlotte Bobcats
22 of 30
Shaun Livingston
Everyone has seen the frightful video of Shaun Livingston's near career ending injury while he was with the Los Angeles Clippers.
This year, Livingston has played in 59 games for the Charlotte Bobcats, more than the last four years combined.
Once he becomes used to the NBA, his size at point guard could be dangerous.
Miami Heat
23 of 30
Udonis Haslem
The Miami native deserves some credit for being able to find a role in the circus that is the Heat.
Orlando Magic
24 of 30
J.J. Redick
In the playoffs last year, J.J. Redick emerged as the Orlando Magic's hardest working player.
This year he's been able to carry that energy over, averaging over 10 points per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.
Washington Wizards
25 of 30
Nick Young
The Washington Wizards Nick Young has game that seems to grow with his hair.
Young has transformed into an afro headed scoring machine this year, averaging 17.7 points per game, compared with the 8.6 of last year.
Young has to be a candidate for Most Improved.
Denver Nuggets
26 of 30
Raymond Felton
The Denver Nuggets have just acquired point guard Raymond Felton, possibly the Most Improved player in the NBA this year.
Felton has increased drastically in most stats, most noticeably in points and assists.
Felton is averaging 17 points and nine assists this year.
Minnesota Timberwolves
27 of 30
Darko Milicic
Arguably the worst draft day mistake ever, Darko Milicic has become a contributor for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Milicic is scoring nine points, grabbing five rebounds, and blocking two shots a game.
It's good to see he's on the court.
Oklahoma City Thunder
28 of 30
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is scoring 22 points per game and dishing eight assists, making him one of the best guards in the NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not a one man show anymore.
Portland Trail Blazers
29 of 30
LaMarcus Aldridge
In the absence of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge took over as the Portland Trail Blazers superstar.
Aldridge is scoring 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game.
Along with Derrick Rose and other young superstars, Aldridge is in the next class of NBA elite.
Utah Jazz
30 of 30
C.J. Miles
The Utah Jazz are a different team now than when the season started, but C.J. Miles has remained as the spark off the bench.
Miles is scoring 12 points a game, coming off the bench and playing around 20 minutes per game.
Last year, Miles averaged nine points per game for the Jazz.
