By: Lang Greene Last Updated: 12/17/10 8:29 AM ET | 3370 times read

Adjust font size:The NBA's Most Improved Player award has been around since the 1986 season when Alvin Robertson took him the honors as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.

The award has never had a repeat recipient and since 2000 five of its winners (Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Gilbert Arenas, Zach Randolph and Danny Granger) have subsequently went on to achieve All-Star status.

When evaluating the current candidate list, the emphasis has been placed on substantial statistical growth over the 2010 season or career production. In the case of a few players on this list, their recent performance earns them a mention because just a seasonal comparison wouldn't accurately reflect their overall improvement (accounts for slow start / lack of playing time early on).

Stats through December 16, 2010

Michael Beasley, Power Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves
2010: 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 45% field goal
2011: 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 48% field goal

Rumble young man rumble. Beasley is turning out to be the steal of the 2010 summer. Much maligned Timberwolves team president David Kahn was able to pry the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2008 draft away from the Miami HEAT in exchange for two measly future second round picks. To be fair, Miami made the move to create the salary cap space needed to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Despite all the negative talk surrounding Beasley at the end of last season his on court production wasn't ever anything to dismiss. However, Beasley never seemed comfortable in Miami and constantly struggled to fit into the structured system that the HEAT employs.

The former Kansas State University product is flourishing in Minnesota and is the team's leading scorer through the first quarter of the season. The rebounds are down slightly but he's playing next to Kevin Love who has been a certified board eraser. Lost in all this, Beasley is still only 21 years old – just scratching the surface of his long term potential.

Raymond Felton, Point Guard, New York Knicks
2010: 12.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 76% free throw
2011: 18.7 points, 8.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 90% free throw

The Bobcats essentially let their starting point guard since 2006 walk in free agency this past summer and rolled the dice that the duo of D.J. Augustin and Shaun Livingston would be enough to offset the loss of Felton.

Sometimes plans are better in theory than in reality.

Amar'e Stoudemire is the franchise guy in New York, but the Knicks picked up a valuable piece by signing Felton to a relatively bargain deal at two-years $15.8 million (team option for year three). He immediately became a backcourt upgrade over current Orlando reserve guard Chris Duhon.

Felton has posted thirteen games of 10 assists or more so far this season compared to ten games of 10 assists or more in the entire 2010 campaign. There is a similar trend emerging with the amount of 20+ points contests thus far in 2011 (10) compared to the entire 2010 (6) campaign.

Head coach Mike D'Antoni finally has a floor general running the point in his frenetic paced offense and Felton deservedly is getting some All-Star buzz.

Dorell Wright, Small Forward, Golden State Warriors
2010: 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals
2011: 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals

Wright is an example of another HEAT alum breaking out this season since his departure from south beach. While there have always been flashes of potential demonstrated from Wright, he was unable to find consistent playing time in Miami behind a team of veterans and the aforementioned Beasley.

The Golden State Warriors invested $11.4 million over three years this past summer to further explore that potential and the results are immediately visible. Wright has basically doubled his scoring, rebound and assist production while ranking in the league's top 5 in minutes per game (39.1).

Jodie Meeks, Shooting Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
2010: 5.9 points, 38% three-point, 73% free throw
2011: 10.0 points, 45% three-point, 83% free throw

When a relatively unproven former second round pick is able to unseat a lottery pick (Evan Turner) and future of the franchise in the starting lineup props must be given.

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View Lang Greene Archive Don't be fooled simply by his season averages. Meeks is averaging 14.1 points and roughly 3 three-pointers made per game in his seven starts.

Roy Hibbert, Center, Indiana Pacers
2010: 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
2011: 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks

We all knew that Hibbert was emerging at the end of last season, but instead of resting on his laurels the former Georgetown University star devoted his offseason to developing his game further.

The results are visible just looking at him physically.

Hibbert dropped 20-25 pounds this past summer and is more active and fluid on both ends of the court. Not surprisingly his fouls are down which has increased his floor times (minutes). In addition, he has already recorded 8 double-doubles in 24 games this season compared to 10 during the entire 2010 campaign.

Jerryd Bayless, Point Guard, Toronto Raptors
2010: 8.5 points, 2.3 assists, 32% three-point
2011: 9.1 points, 3.5 assists, 38% three-point

Just analyzing the season over season average doesn't tell the true story of Bayless' progress. He was traded by the Trail Blazers to the Hornets before the season began in October, played 11 games in New Orleans and then was shipped north of the border to the Raptors in less than a month.

One team's expendable piece may turn out to be the others' treasure.

Bayless has seamlessly settled in amongst the Raptors' talented young core. Since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago Bayless has posted averages of 22.7 points and 6.7 assists. That's grown man production.

It's still early of course, but Bayless' recent play at least puts him on the radar for Most Improved.

Arron Afflalo, Shooting Guard, Denver Nuggets
2010: 8.8 points, 47% field goal, 43% three-point, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists
2011: 12.8 points, 52% field goal, 46% three-point, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Here is a trend you simply can't ignore. Every season Afflalo has been in the league his points, field goal and three-point percentages, rebounds, steals and blocks production have improved. There is nothing fluky about this trend.

What may work against Afflalo's favor in this category is the fact his improvement over the past few years has been steady, not meteoric.

Daniel Gibson, Point Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
2010: 6.3 points, 1.3 assists, 48% three-point
2011: 13.7 points, 3.0 assists, 42% three-point

Sure his overall field goal and three point percentages have declined considerably, but keep in mind he no longer has the luxury of LeBron James commanding opposing teams' attention. His shots are a lot more contested now.

Here's the thing. Gibson is on pace to record career bests in points, assists, rebounds and free throw percentage. The arrival of head coach Byron Scott and the departure of James have contributed to Gibson's improvement on the offensive end of the court.

Honorable Mentions

Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City – the 21 year old forward continues to emerge as he's now averaging double-digit points for the Thunder. Let's not forget the 2.3 blocks per night.

Nick Young, Washington – Young has always been able to put the ball in the basket, however, he's been much more efficient this season shooting 47 percent from the floor.

Darko Milicic, Minnesota – Darko has overcome a horrendous start to the season shooting the ball, but his block production (2.7) paired with Kevin Love's insane rebounding make the T'Wolves' future inside look promising.

Wesley Matthews, Portland – Matthews has played more than expected due to the nagging knee injury that has hampered Brandon Roy this season. To his credit, Matthews has stepped in, shot a high percentage and improved his scoring average (15.0 ppg) by six points over his rookie campaign in 2010.

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