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Tim BontempsESPN
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen capped off a stunning turnaround in his career by claiming the NBA’s Most Improved Player award on Monday night.
Markkanen (64 first place votes, 430 total points) edged out Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 first place votes, 289 total points) and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (4 first place votes, 91 total points) to win the award.
Another 10 players received at least one vote, including Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and New Orleans guard Trey Murphy III getting at least one first place selection.
Markkanen, who is in Finland completing his mandated service to the country’s military this summer, was traded to Utah as part of the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in September. The 7-foot forward, who had averaged under 15 points per game each of the last three seasons — the first two in Chicago, and then last year with Cleveland — then had what is by far the best season of his career, averaging 25.6 points per game on 49.9 percent shooting overall and 39.1 percent from 3-point range.
As a result, Markkanen was selected to his first All-Star team back in February, and is a strong candidate to nab one of the six All-NBA forward selections when those teams are announced later this postseason.
Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, was also picked for his first All-Star team, and is a virtual lock to be an All-NBA selection, after averaging 31.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, leading one of the youngest rosters in the NBA — one missing the No. 2 overall pick from last year’s NBA Draft, Chet Holmgren, due to a foot injury — to the verge of the playoffs.
In his first season as a Knick, Brunson has helped lead New York to the brink of just the franchise’s second playoff series victory in a generation, scoring 26 points in New York’s Game 4 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday afternoon to give the Knicks a 3-1 lead in that best-of-seven series.
Brunson, who signed a four-year deal with New York as a free agent this past summer after helping Dallas reach the Western Conference finals last season, averaged a career-high 24 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field.
Markkanen follows the first round of awards handed out by the NBA last week: Defensive Player of the Year (Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr.); Clutch Player of the Year (Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox); Coach of the Year (Kings coach Mike Brown); and Sixth Man of the Year (Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon).
The NBA will announce its Rookie of the Year award winner Tuesday night, with Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Jazz center Walker Kessler and Thunder forward Jalen Williams having been named the finalists for the honor. The All-NBA, All-Defense and All-Rookie teams — along with the league’s Most Valuable Player award — will be unveiled later this postseason.