NBA Most Improved Player of the Year (MIP) Power Rankings featuring Miles Bridges, Ja Morant and more | February 5th, 2022

The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend is now shaping up well and rosters for the All-Star Game and Rising Stars have been revealed.

As announced last week, Ja Morant will be a starter for the Western Conference. In addition to Morant, Darius Garland was also named an All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference.

However, Garland only played one game last week due to a back injury and is out of the top five in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Maybe he can get it back once he's fully healthy or even after the All-Star break when he's got some additional rest.

Let's take a look at this week's NBA MIP power rankings and see who's new in the top five.

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#5 Anfernee Simons

Anfernee Simons Portland Trail Blazers.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #4

Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 0; Games lost - 4

Overall: Games played - 47; Games won - 21; Games lost - 26

Last Week: PPG - 16.8, APG - 3.8, RPG - 3.8

Overall: PPG - 15.7, APG - 3.7, RPG - 2.7

Last Week: FG% - 35.8%, 3P% - 28.9%, FT% - 72.7%

Overall: FG% - 43.9%, 3P% - 39.2%, FT% - 89.3%.

Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers falls one spot in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. It was a down week last week for Simons, as he averaged just 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four games. The Blazers were also really poor last week, losing all four games they played.

Simons also struggled offensively last week, shooting just 35.8% from the field and under 30.0% from beyond the arc. His free throw shooting took a dip as well as he made just 72.7% from the bonus line.

With Damian Lillard still out and Norman Powell traded, Simons is in line for more shots and touches. He will look to improve his numbers next week.

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#4 Desmond Bane

Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - NA

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

Overall: Games played - 50; Games won - 34; Games lost - 16

Last Week: PPG - 22.0, APG - 2.3, RPG - 5.0

Overall: PPG - 18.0, APG - 2.4, RPG - 4.4

Last Week: FG% - 42.9%, 3P% - 40.7%, SPG - 1.7

Overall: FG% - 46.5%, 3P% - 41.8%, SPG - 1.1

Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies is back in the top five in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Bane enters at number four after averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games last week. He was out for more than 10 days prior to that due to entering the league's health and safety protocols.

Bane had his best game since returning against the Philadelphia 76ers. He put up 34 points, seven rebounds, one assist and three steals. For his breakout season, Bane was also named to the Rising Stars Challenge as part of Team Isiah Thomas.

#3 Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3

Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 0; Games lost - 3

Overall: Games played - 51; Games won - 26; Games lost - 25

Last Week: PPG - 12.0, APG - 3.0, RPG - 6.0

Overall: PPG - 19.8, APG - 3.5, RPG - 7.2

Last Week: FG% - 37.1%, 3P% - 0.0%, FT% - 76.9%

Overall: FG% - 48.7%, 3P% - 31.5%, FT% - 78.6%

Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets stays at number three in this week's NBA Most Improved power rankings. Bridges averaged just 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in three games last week, and the Hornets also couldn't notch up a single win.

Bridges struggled last week, shooting just 37.1% from the field and not making any three-point shots. He has also gone gun shy in their last two games of the week, taking only 16 total shots. To put that number in context, Bridges took 19 shots in the Hornets' first game last week against the LA Clippers.

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#2 Dejounte Murray

Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2

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

Overall: Games played - 47; Games won - 19; Games lost - 28

Last Week: PPG - 23.0, APG - 10.0, RPG - 8.0

Overall: PPG - 19.6, APG - 9.2, RPG - 8.4

Last Week: FG% - 56.8%, 3P% - 28.6%, SPG - 3.0

Overall: FG% - 45.4%, 3P% - 31.6, SPG - 2.1

Dejounte Murray continued his hot streak last week despite playing just two games. The San Antonio Spurs star retains his position in second place in this week's NBA Most Improved power rankings. Murray averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game last week.

However, Murray was snubbed when the All-Star reserves were announced. He certainly deserved to be an All-Star this season as he has averaged 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game. With Draymond Green possibly missing the All-Star game, Murray could be chosen as his replacement.

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#1 Ja Morant

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1

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

Overall: Games played - 41; Games won - 25; Games lost - 16

Last Week: PPG - 31.3, APG - 5.3, RPG - 4.0

Overall: PPG - 26.3, APG - 6.9, RPG - 5.9

Last Week: FG% - 46.4%, 3P% - 21.1%, FT% - 66.7%

Overall: FG% - 48.6%, 3P% - 34.2%, FT% - 75.9%

Ja Morant's star continued to shine this week for the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant led the Grizzlies to a 2-1 record last week, averaging 31.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Those numbers prove why Morant is still number one in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings.

The 22-year-old superstar may have struggled from beyond the arc and at the foul line last week, but he was still efficient on offense. Morant is an amazing player despite his current flaws and is only going to improve as the season progresses.

There's a chance he might not be toppled at the top of the power rankings at all.

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