NBA Most Improved Player 2020: December Power Rankings

#2 Bam Adebayo - Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo has played a vital role on a Miami team that has made an excellent start to the season

Heading into the season, Bam Adebayo had started just 37 times during his first two seasons in the league - while averaging just over 20 minutes per contest. The 22-year-old was also backed as one of the players that the Miami Heat would be willing to include in a trade to land a second All-Star - although Adebayo has since made himself seemingly untouchable thanks to a series of excellent performances.

The center has started all 32 of the Heat's games so far this season, averaging 15.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Despite making more than 10 field goal attempts per contest, Adebayo's field goal percentage remains at an impressive (57%) - and at this point, the only thing missing from his game is a three-point shot.

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#1 Luka Doncic - Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic has been among the best players in the NBA this season

After being selected 3rd overall in the 2018 NBA draft, Luka Doncic enjoyed an excellent debut season with the Dallas Mavericks as he was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 32.2 minutes per contest. Doncic's rookie campaign was among the most impressive of the past decade, although the shooting guard has managed to take huge strides in his second year in the league, and is on the verge of establishing himself as a genuine superstar.

Doncic has improved every aspect of his game, and through 27 appearances this season, the 20-year-old is averaging 29.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Doncic has also led the Mavericks to a better than expected 21-10 record, and while he remains in contention for the MVP award, the former EuroLeague star is also the leading candidate to be named Most Improved Player.