Ja Morant beats Murray and Garland to NBA Most Improved Player award
Ja Morant has been named the NBA’s Most Improved Player after leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the two seed while averaging 27 points.
Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has been crowned the NBA’s 2021-22 Most Improved Player.
Morant, 22, was the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, but this year made a leap in his ability to score the ball, and guided his team to the second seed in the Western Conference with a 56-26 record.
Morant raises the bar at Grizzlies
After averaging 19 points per game at under 45 per cent shooting in 2020-21, Morant raised that figure to 27 points per game with career-best efficiency at 49 per cent from the field and 34 per cent from long range.
He also posted career-highs in three-point makes and attempts, rebounds per game and steals per game, with a small drop in assists.
The Grizzlies are currently tied at 2-2 in their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Game 5 set to take place back in Memphis.
To win the award, Morant beat out fellow finalists Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs, and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland.