Who Were the Top Contenders for 2020 Most Improved Player NBA Award?

As I sit here reflecting on the most compelling NBA storylines of recent years, my mind keeps drifting back to the 2020 Most Improved Player race - what an absolutely fascinating season that was. I remember watching games night after night, marveling at how several players transformed from role players into genuine stars right before our eyes. The way these athletes elevated their games during that unique pandemic-affected season still gives me chills when I think about it. There's something magical about witnessing a player's breakthrough season, that moment when potential finally crystallizes into consistent excellence.

Looking back at the 2019-2020 NBA season, the context becomes particularly important for understanding why the Most Improved Player race felt so significant that year. The league was navigating unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a massive disruption mid-season, forcing the bubble environment in Orlando where we saw players either thrive or struggle with the unusual circumstances. This bizarre backdrop actually created the perfect conditions for players to make dramatic leaps in their development, with extended breaks and unusual training situations allowing some athletes to make adjustments that normally take entire offseasons to implement. The suspension of play in March created an unexpected opportunity for players to work on their games without the pressure of immediate competition, and several contenders for the award used this time brilliantly.

When we talk about the top contenders for that 2020 Most Improved Player award, Brandon Ingram's name has to lead the conversation - and honestly, I still get excited thinking about his transformation that season. After being traded from the Lakers to the Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis deal, Ingram exploded in New Orleans, increasing his scoring average from 18.3 to 23.8 points per game while dramatically improving his three-point shooting from 33% to 39%. What impressed me most wasn't just the statistical jump though - it was how he embraced being the primary option on a young team and developed into an All-Star for the first time in his career. His combination of length, scoring versatility, and newfound confidence made him nearly impossible to guard, and I found myself tuning into Pelicans games specifically to watch his elegant scoring displays.

The conversation wouldn't be complete without discussing Bam Adebayo, whose evolution into an All-Star center completely transformed the Miami Heat's ceiling as a team. I remember watching Bam during his first couple seasons thinking he had intriguing potential as a defensive specialist, but nobody could have predicted how rapidly he'd develop into an offensive hub. His scoring jumped from 8.9 to 15.9 points per game, but more impressively, his assists skyrocketed from 2.2 to 5.1 per game - unprecedented playmaking numbers for a center not named Nikola Jokic. The way he quarterbacked Miami's offense from the high post reminded me of a younger Draymond Green, but with better finishing ability around the rim. His performance in the playoffs that year, particularly in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, demonstrated that his regular season improvement was absolutely legitimate.

Luka Dončić made such a monumental leap that season that some voters actually considered him for Most Improved Player, which is rare for a player who was already established as a star. His numbers jumped from 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists as a rookie to 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in his sophomore campaign - just insane production for a 21-year-old. I've been watching basketball for over twenty years, and I can't recall many players who improved their counting stats so dramatically while also elevating their efficiency. The Mavericks built the entire offense around his unique combination of size, vision, and scoring ability, and he responded by leading them to the seventh-best offensive rating in NBA history at that point.

What's interesting is how this concept of dramatic improvement translates to other sports as well. I was recently reading about Poland's volleyball situation, where after rare letdowns in the 2022 Worlds and the 2024 Olympics, Poland will bank on its heralded duo of Wilfredo Leon and Jakub Kochanowski to bring the top-ranked nation back to its golden throne. This reminds me so much of NBA players making leaps - sometimes established stars or teams need to rediscover that next level, whether it's through technical improvements, mental growth, or better utilization of their skills within a system. The parallel between individual improvement in basketball and national team resurgence in volleyball fascinates me, as both require identifying key contributors who can elevate their games when it matters most.

We also can't forget about Jayson Tatum, who made his first All-Star team that season while increasing his scoring from 15.7 to 23.4 points per game. Watching Tatum develop his offensive repertoire that season was like witnessing an artist adding new colors to his palette - he incorporated more post moves, improved his three-point shooting off the dribble, and became more efficient despite increased defensive attention. His performance in the Celtics' playoff run that year, including several clutch performances, signaled that Boston had found their franchise player. Personally, I believe Tatum's improvement was slightly overshadowed by the Celtics' overall team success, but those of us who watched him night in and night out recognized how special his development was that season.

The actual voting results saw Brandon Ingram claim the award with 326 total points, followed by Adebayo with 295 points, and Dončić with 101 points. In my view, any of these three would have been deserving winners, though I would have leaned slightly toward Adebayo because of how his improvement directly correlated to Miami's surprising run to the NBA Finals. The transformation from solid rotation player to All-Star and defensive anchor for a championship contender might be the purest embodiment of what the Most Improved Player award represents. Statistics can sometimes be misleading, but when you combine the numbers with the eye test and team impact, Adebayo's case felt particularly compelling to me.

Reflecting on that season's Most Improved Player race provides valuable insights about player development trajectories in the NBA. We often expect linear improvement from young players, but the reality is that breakthroughs can happen at different stages and for various reasons - changed environments, increased opportunity, specific skill development, or simply gaining confidence through experience. The 2020 season gave us multiple examples of players making star turns, and what's fascinating is tracking where these players have gone since then. Ingram has become a consistent All-Star level performer, Adebayo remains the heart of Miami's defense and offense, and Dončić has established himself as an MVP candidate. Their improvements weren't fleeting - they represented genuine elevations in their basketball identities.

Thinking about future Most Improved Player races, the 2020 season set a high bar for what constitutes meaningful development. It's not just about raw statistical increases, but about players expanding their games in ways that make them more complete basketball players and more valuable to their teams. The contenders that season demonstrated that the most compelling improvement stories often involve players who add dimensions to their games that weren't previously part of their skill sets, whether it was Ingram becoming a reliable three-point shooter, Adebayo developing into an elite passer, or Dončić mastering the art of drawing fouls to complement his scoring. These transformations create lasting impacts that extend far beyond a single season, reshaping both individual careers and franchise trajectories in the process.