Two OKC Thunder Standouts Vying for Most Improved Player

Two of Oklahoma City's promising young centerpieces are in the preseason conversation for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, two Thunder players are in the top 10 of the NBA's Most Improved Player betting odds heading into the 2023-24 season.

Third-year guard Josh Giddey has the eighth-best odds to win the Most Improved Player award while second-year wing Jalen Williams has the tenth-best odds to take home the trophy. Giddey's odds currently sit at +2000 with Williams holding a similar value at +2200.

Last season, star OKC guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second place in MIP voting behind Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. This year, Nets wing Mikal Bridges is the heavy favorite to win the award at +700.

Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game during his second season in the league, scoring over four more points per game than his rookie season while greatly improving his shooting splits. 

As a rookie, the 6-foot-8 Australian guard shot 41.9 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from 3-point range. After one offseason with OKC's new shooting coach Chip Engelland, however, Giddey's percentages jumped to 48.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.

If the 20-year-old is able to improve his shooting numbers once again in addition to an increase in his counting statistics, Giddey will certainly have a strong case for Most Improved Player, especially if the Thunder have a strong season as a team.

With Giddey's youth, perimeter shooting improvements, and the strides that he took during the 2022-23 season, it would not be surprising to see Oklahoma City's point guard compete for the award.

Williams, a second-year utility wing from Santa Clara, will also have a strong case in 2023-24 after finishing second place in Rookie of the Year voting last season. 

The No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Williams' exploded onto the scene as a first-year player, averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range. 

The First-Team All-Rookie selection's performance after the All-Star Break, however, is even more impressive. In OKC's final 25 contests, Williams averaged 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

At one point, the stellar rookie even took control of the game for the Thunder when Gilgeous-Alexander missed time, scoring 27 points and knocking down a last-second game winner. 

JALEN WILLIAMS TONIGHT:

27 PTS
8 REB
6 AST
58 FG%

AND THE GAME WINNER pic.twitter.com/3rISunLddO

— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) March 30, 2023

Williams also was very impressive on defense, and showed his ability to jump passing lanes and use his long arms to stifle offensive players when guarding the ball.

If the former Santa Clara star is able to improve his perimeter shooting and continue to lock down opponents on defense, his remarkable two-way ability should land Williams in the running for Most Improved Player.

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