Charlotte Hornets Round-Table: 2019 NBA Award Predictions
Most Improved Player of the Year
Zachary Padmore: Pascal Siakam.
“The player that I think has taken the biggest leap forward this season has been Pascal Siakam. I believe he should have been an All-Star this season, and he has already developed into one of the best two-way players in the league. If he continues to develop his jump shot, the sky is the limit for this young man in Toronto. D’Angelo Russell is certainly giving him a run for his money in Brooklyn, though.”
Giovanni Spillman: Pascal Siakam.
“Siakam did not have the best season last year while only averaging 7.3 points per game. Once the team added Kawhi Leonard, he turned it up and had a career year. During the season, Siakam averaged 17 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He has started in every game this season except for one and has established himself as an offensive threat in the Raptors’ starting lineup. He is a starter on the second best team in the league, and has worked hard to earn his starting role.”
Elijah Edwards: D’Angelo Russell.
“I feel like it’s going to be D’Angelo Russell. On top of earning his first All-Star Game appearance, most of his numbers are up from last year, including scoring (going from 15 points to 21 points per game), assists, field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage. Add to the fact that he’s essentially led the Brooklyn Nets to the playoffs for the first time in four years, and it leads me to believe that he will win this.”
Daniel Abee: Pascal Siakam.
“Pascal Siakam slightly edges out D’Angelo Russell for me after a career year that saw his numbers across the board jump drastically. He averaged nearly 17 points this season, which was almost a ten point increase from a season ago.
In addition to his scoring jump, he hauled in nearly seven rebounds a game, shot a surprising 37 percent from behind the arc and used his tremendous length to become a lockdown defender.
Perhaps the best part of Siakam’s breakthrough season was how unexpected it was. Toronto’s season featured the arrival of Kawhi Leonard and a trade for Marc Gasol, so Pascal’s career-year had to be a pleasant surprise. Pascal was picked 27th overall in 2016 and prior to this year, hadn’t shown any signs of reaching the level he has. Expect him to be a key contributor in a deep playoff run for Toronto.”