LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – JULY 31: Luka Doncic # 77 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles during the … [+]
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After Dallas Maverick’s outstanding Luka Doncic took home the “Rookie of the Year” award last season, he’s in the running for another award this year. Doncic is one of three finalists for the NBA Most Improved Player Award.
While it’s only its second season, Doncic hasn’t seen another slump like so many who join the NBA at a young age. After an impressive season in his freshman year, the numbers he now picks up and the skills he shows on the pitch are remarkable.
He’s seen statistical improvements almost everywhere this season. He averaged 29 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists. Doncic also scores career highs in field goal percentages, two-point field goals and free throws – 46.2%, 57.4% and 75.2%, respectively.
He averaged 21.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds and six assists last season while deviating 42.7 percent from the floor.
The only category where his numbers have fallen this season compared to the last is his three-point shooting percentage. He shot the long ball with 32.7% as a rookie. This year this mark has fallen to 31.6%.
While Doncic is the highest star power player in the league nominated for Most Enhanced Player, he faces tough competition. Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and New Orleans Pelicans’s Brandon Ingram are also finalists.
All three were named All-Stars for the first time this season.
Now, in its third season, Adebayo is averaging double digits – 16.1 points – for the first time in his career, and his minutes have increased significantly as he permanently switched to a starting role.
Ingram has since taken the reins of the Pelican’s crime as Zion Williamson has sustained multiple injuries this season. The four-year veteran has increased his scoring average by nearly six points and is also an improved rebounder and passer-by. Ingram also shoots lights behind the arch – 38.9%.
As impressive as Adebayo and Ingram were, they also don’t manage the gaudy numbers that Doncic produces. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Slovenian star’s performance is that he only increased his playing time by less than two minutes per game.
The price coordination took place between July 21 and 28. This does not take into account the games currently being played in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Instead, it will only be based on games from the start of the regular season through March 11, if the league has suspended play.
The winners will be announced by TNT during the network’s coverage of the playoffs.
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