Why 76ers' Tyrese Maxey deserves legitimate consideration for NBA's Most Improved Player award this season

 

There is no shortage of viable candidates when it comes to the NBA's Most Improved Player award this season.

Miles Bridges has added over eight points per game to his scoring average compared to last season, and emerged as a go-to guy on the offensive end for the Charlotte Hornets in the process. Plus, Bridges has provided "SportsCenter"-worthy highlights on a near-nightly basis. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has morphed into a superstar before our very eyes this season, and his stellar play has him being mentioned in the Most Valuable Player conversation, as well as for Most Improved Player. His teammate in Memphis, Desmond Bane, has also emerged as a dangerous and consistent complement to Morant, and also as one of the most lethal shooters in the league this season. 

Darius Garland has blossomed into an All-Star in his third season in Cleveland, and as a result he has the Cavaliers headed for their first postseason appearance since LeBron James walked away from the franchise for a second time in 2018. Similarly, Dejounte Murray has taken his game to another level with the San Antonio Spurs, and was selected to his first All-Star team in his sixth season. The Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons is also in the midst of a breakout campaign. 

All of these players have a solid case to win the MIP award, and they could all be considered deserving. However, one player who should be generating a bit more buzz when it comes to his candidacy is Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. The second-year player slid into a starting spot for Philadelphia at the onset of the season due to the absence of Ben Simmons, and he hasn't looked back.

Maxey flashed potential in a limited role as a rookie last season. This season, though, he's receiving consistent playing time -- and a lot of it -- and his production has skyrocketed as a result. Last season, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per performance. This season, he's playing 35.8 minutes per game, and averaging 17.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds.

Stats can be expected to swell when a guy gets substantially more playing time, but in addition to the raw numbers, Maxey's efficiency has improved as well. He's shooting 48 percent from the field after converting at a 46 percent clip last season, and he's hitting 41 percent of his 3-pointers this season -- up from 30 percent during his rookie campaign. As a result, his effective field goal percentage has jumped from 49 to 54 percent. This increase in efficiency is noteworthy considering the massive jump in the role that Maxey, 21, has undertaken.

Maxey's growth is evident everywhere. His finishing, shooting and playmaking have all improved compared to last season. Considering how much he has the ball in his hands, he also does a commendable job of taking care of it -- he's averaging just 1.2 turnovers per game this season. Even his defense has taken a step forward, although he still has a way to go on that side of the floor before he can truly be considered a two-way player.

Maxey's development as a long-range shooter is especially promising for the Sixers, who always need floor-spacing around Joel Embiid -- and now James Harden, too. He has demonstrated an ability to knock down shots in both pull-up and catch-and-shoot situations, and he has maximized the added space afforded to him since Harden was acquired via trade last month.

Another thing that should be taken into account when it comes to Maxey's candidacy is the fact that he has played an integral role on a contending team, which isn't the case with most of the other candidates. Players like Bridges, Garland and Murray entered the season in relatively low-pressure situations, as not too much was expected from the Cavs, Hornets, or Spurs. 

Morant's play (and to a lesser extent Bane's) has helped turn the Grizzlies into a team that looks like it could make a real run in the playoffs, but Morant also didn't enter the current campaign facing the same level of pressure that Maxey did stepping in for a disgruntled All-Star on a contender in a major market. After the way that the Sixers flamed out in the playoffs last season -- and the resulting Simmons-related drama -- the spotlight has been on Philly and Maxey since the onset of the season, and rather than wilting, he has excelled.  

How much stuff like that matters in award races is anyone's guess. What one voter values, another may overlook. At the end of the day, annual awards -- like Most Improved Player -- are subjective. Does Maxey deserve to win it this season more than his other worthy peers? That's for the voters to decide, but he certainly belongs right in the thick of the conversation considering the way he has elevated his game for the Sixers.