Cavs: Larry Nance Jr.’s top competition for Most Improved Player
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Larry Nance Jr. is an excellent all-around basketball player. He has worked in the offseason to expand on his weaknesses and will be looking to capture the NBA’s most improved player award this season. Who are his top competitors?
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. is coming off of the best statistical season in his career in which he averaged career-highs across the board. Nance has worked hard on improving on his weaknesses this offseason and will take another jump forward as he did last year.
Per Basketball-Reference, Nance had per-game averages of 9.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists last season.
It may not be realistic to ask Nance to make as big of a jump as last year’s NBA Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakam, but the Cavs should expect improvement across the board again, especially if he is going to be the starting power forward.
The first player Nance will have to worry about finished third last season in the voting, thus his low ranking on this list.
#6 – De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox is likely the best player that will appear on this list but he is the first mention and the least likely threat to Nance due to the fact that he burst onto the scene last year and will have a hard time improving enough to be considered the NBA’s most improved.
Fox will be looking to lead the Kings to a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference, and that is certainly realistic with the talent they have. The rest of their starting lineup is filled out by Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, and Dewayne Dedmon. Their sixth man, Bogdan Bogdanovic is going to be one of the top competitors for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award next season.
Last season, per Basketball-Reference, Fox had per-game averages of 17.3 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds.
#5 – Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
The Miami Heat moved on from Hassan Whiteside this summer when they dealt him to the Portland Trail Blazers, meaning Bam Adebayo is finally the man in the middle.
Adebayo has had to share minutes with Whiteside in each of his first two seasons in the NBA and per Basketball-Reference, he has never played more than 23.3 minutes per game.
This season, his main competition for minutes at center is Meyers Leonard. Adebayo should increase his minutes’ load to the 30 to 34 range as he is very athletic and will be able to play smaller guys when teams go small.
His per-36 minute stats from Basketball-Reference last season show a player that is ready to break out but just needs the playing time. He had per-36 minute stats of 13.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks last season.