The case for Miles Bridges as Most Improved Player

Miles Bridges’ ascension to stardom has been a prevailing storyline for the Charlotte Hornets this season. With a combination of high-flying dunks, physical drives to the rim, and overall tenacity on the court, Bridges has been a major catalyst for a Hornets team that is currently 7th in the Eastern Conference.

While Bridges’ play has certainly caught the attention of the Hornets faithful, there is also a strong case to be made that he is deserving of league-wide recognition in the form of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

To examine Bridges’ case for the MIP award, it is important to consider both his progression as an individual as well as the impact he has had on the team. Bridges’ traditional stats have all increased, as he is averaging 20.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, all of which are career-highs. This is partially due to increased usage, as Bridges is playing nearly 36 minutes per game, also a career-high.

Bridges has started in every game that he has played this season, and his usage rate sits at 22.2 percent, up from 17 percent last season. However, attributing the entirety of Bridges’ improvement to increased opportunity would be underselling the overall improvement of Bridges’ game. Bridges’ shooting percentages are all lower than a season ago, an indication that his increased offensive output is not solely a byproduct of improved shooting. Rather, Bridges has been relentless in attacking the rim, with nearly 53 percent of his scoring occurring in the paint, the highest percentage of any non-center for the Hornets.

As a result of his aggressive play, Bridges also leads the team in free throw attempts per game. Beyond the individual improvements, Bridges’ production has also had a tremendous impact on the Hornets as a whole. Bridges leads the Hornets in win shares and plus-minus and has helped the Hornets to play at a 46-win pace, an improvement from their 38-win pace a season ago.

Bridges has been Charlotte’s iron-man this season, leading the team in games played and games started. In a season that has been impacted by COVID-19 health and safety protocols in addition to the standard injuries of a typical NBA season, Bridges’ availability has made him a reliable asset for the Hornets.

Bridges currently holds the second-best odds to bring home the MIP award (+600), with only Ja Morant (-275) of the Memphis Grizzlies having better odds, according to WynnBET. Both players are having superb seasons, with Morant recently being named an All-Star starter and Bridges being a potential All-Star selection. Morant’s play has vaulted him into MVP candidacy, as he currently has the 5th-highest MVP odds (+2000).

No player has ever won both the MIP and the MVP award in the same season, and while Morant may not win the MVP award this season, his candidacy might dissuade some voters from casting their MIP votes for him. Draymond Green summarized this stance in a recent episode of his podcast, stating.

"… Ja is not going to get most improved, Miles Bridges should get Most Improved … Let’s talk about the MVP conversation. That’s the category that I personally feel like Ja Morant needs to be mentioned more in."

While a strong case can be made for either player, the case for Bridges boils down to improvement relative to expectations. While it was expected that Bridges would improve in his fourth season, his level of play has already surpassed those expectations. Bridges’ improvement has been a key to Charlotte’s overall improvement this season, and as the season continues and the postseason draws near, the Hornets will be relying on him to continue providing his improved level of play.