1. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
2. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Coby White, Chicago Bulls
With Antetokounmpo, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Ja Morant and Lauri Markkanen winning most improved player honors over the past decade, the award has become a ticket to the “welcome to the stars” club. Maxey (25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists) fits that profile. After breaking out in his third season and stepping into the lead guard role following Philadelphia’s trade of James Harden, the 2020 first-round pick posted career highs across the board and formed one of the league’s most explosive inside-outside duos with Embiid. Though his scoring efficiency took a predictable hit with his increased volume, Maxey earned his first all-star selection and did his best to keep the 76ers afloat during Embiid’s absence. The 76ers loom as potential spoilers in the East — a No. 3 or No. 4 seed masquerading as a possible play-in team. Whichever favorite draws Philadelphia must contend with Embiid and Maxey, who is a threat to score in transition, at the rim off the dribble and from beyond the arc.
Williams (19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists), last season’s rookie of the year runner-up, made a strong second-year jump. The 2022 lottery pick has enough all-around offensive game to function as a team’s leading scorer, but his real value comes from his willingness to serve as a lethal secondary scorer and playmaker alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
While Maxey and Williams were popular preseason picks, White (19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists) came out of nowhere. Making the most of an expanded role following Zach LaVine’s season-ending foot injury, the 2019 lottery pick nearly doubled his scoring average and helped keep the mediocre Bulls from a complete midseason collapse.
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