NBA Most Improved Player of the Year (MIP) Power Rankings featuring Darius Garland, Ja Morant and more | January 20th, 2022

Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

#3 Dejounte Murray

Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs.
Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2

Overall: Games played - 40; Games won - 16; Games lost - 24

Last Week: PPG - 22.3, APG - 8.8, RPG - 9.8

Overall: PPG - 19.2, APG - 8.9, RPG - 8.4

Last Week: FG% - 52.6%, 3P% - 22.2%, SPG - 1.5

Overall: FG% - 45.1%, 3P% - 32.6, SPG - 2.0

Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs had another big week, but it was not enough to prevent him falling to number three in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Murray averaged 22.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists in four games last week, helping the Spurs win two of those games.

The 25-year-old guard posted his eighth triple-double of the season in the win against the OKC Thunder. Murray helped the Spurs demolished the Thunder with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. It was the 12th triple-double of his NBA career and just two more away from tying David Robinson's franchise record.


#2 Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets.
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3

Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1

Overall: Games played - 43; Games won - 23; Games lost - 20

Last Week: PPG - 26.7, APG - 3.3, RPG - 7.3

Overall: PPG - 20.0, APG - 3.6, RPG - 7.3

Last Week: FG% - 55.6%, 3P% - 36.4%, FT% - 100.0%

Overall: FG% - 48.2%, 3P% - 32.2%, FT% - 77.3%

Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets is back to second place in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Bridges powered the Hornets to a 2-1 record last week, averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

The Michigan State product exploded for a career-high 38 points against the New York Knicks on Monday. Bridges led the Hornets to a 97-87 win. There's no denying that Bridges is now the second best player in Charlotte and he's only getting better.


#1 Ja Morant

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2

Overall: Games played - 34; Games won - 20; Games lost - 14

Last Week: PPG - 23.3, APG - 8.5, RPG - 6.3

Overall: PPG - 24.7, APG - 6.9, RPG - 5.8

Last Week: FG% - 45.3%, 3P% - 25.0%, FT% - 86.4%

Overall: FG% - 48.5%, 3P% - 35.8%, FT% - 77.7%

Ja Morant remains at number one for this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Morant had another amazing week, averaging 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists in four games. Even though he had two games in which he scored below 20 points, he went toe-to-toe against two of the NBA's biggest stars.

Morant posted 25 points in the win over DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls. He followed it up with a 33-point performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. But with Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray and Miles Bridges having consistent huge performances, Morant has to keep up to remain at number one.

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