Did Alperen Sengun deserve the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award?

Alperen Sengun had a compelling case after a transformative campaign that may have ended in a Play-In Tournament appearance if not for the Grade 3 sprained ankle he suffered against Sacramento. Tyrese Maxey of the 76ers and Chicago’s Coby White were up against him for the award, with Maxey taking it home.

The candidates

Tyrese Maxey

Maxey was the heavy favorite to capture the MIP award. He took over as Philly’s top option when Joel Embiid was sidelined due to injury. Though the Eastern Conference isn’t nearly as daunting as the level of play in the West, replacing an MVP winner for a stretch of the season takes a tremendous amount of focus. Eventually, Embiid returned, and his absence could allow Maxey to feel more comfortable taking control in the playoffs when Philly needs a boost.

Maxey’s stats across four NBA seasons

2023-24: 25.9 points per game, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds (70 games played)

2022-23: 20.3 points per game, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds (60 games played)

2021-22: 17.7 points per game, 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds (75 games played)

2020-21: 8.0 points per game, 2.0 assists, 1.7 rebounds (61 games played)

Coby White

After a setback last season, White silenced his critics but bolstered his production and became a key contributor in Chicago. He averaged double figures in the scoring column for three straight seasons before averaging roughly nine points per outing last season. Chicago once again missed the playoffs, but White’s evolution is a positive for the organization heading into the offseason.

White’s stats across five NBA seasons

2023-24: 19.1 points per game, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds (79 games played)

2022-23: 9.7 points per game, 2.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds (74 games played)

2021-22: 12.7 points per game, 2.9 assists, 3.0 rebounds (61 games played)

2020-21: 15.1 points per game, 4.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds (69 games played)

2019-20: 13.2 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists (65 games played)

Alperen Sengun

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Alperen Sengun’s odds of winning MIP were a long shot. Whether that should be the case or not is highly debatable. The national media clearly remembers how rough Houston was under ex-head coach Stephen Silas because current coach Ime Udoka gets plenty of praise for turning things around, as he should. But what about the players that sparked the change? Particularly a Turkish big-man who turned potential into consistent production?

Sengun’s stats across five NBA seasons

2023-24: 21.1 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, 5.0 assists per game (63 games played)

2022-23: 14.8 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game (75 games played)

2021-22: 9.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game (72 games played)

Recent winners

2023: Markannan, Utah Jazz

2022: Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

2021: Randle, New York Knicks

2020: Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

2019: Pascal Siakim, Toronto Raptors (now-Indiana Pacers)

2018: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers (now-free agent)

2017: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Final verdict

The Most Improved Player award has been controversial for quite a few years. Outside of Lauri Markannen receiving it last season, many have wondered if voters shouldn’t give the trophy to players who rise to the expectations of draft positioning. For instance, Ja Morant won the award in 2022, Julius Randle in 2021 and Brandon Ingram in 2020. All three players were drafted into the Top 10; Morant and Ingram were Top Five selections. I do not believe being drafted high should ban you from consideration because the award should never be about narratives.

Given what Maxey has done in Philadelphia this season, it’s more than fair for him to win the award. It’s worth noting that his leap from 8.0 points per game as a rookie to 17.5 the following season was impressive. My biggest gripe with the award is that it needs more consistency. If Maxey is a No. 1 option next season and his scoring output leaps from 25.9 points per game to 30.2 points per game, will he receive a second straight award? Probably not. It’d be his third scoring leap of five or more points, but if this scenario were to come true, he’d only have won the award once.

None of this is to suggest he’s not worthy of this year’s award, but what goes into receiving it? When all opportunities aren’t equal, how do you measure improvement? That’s a question I’d like to ask voters.

Trust me, this isn’t sour grapes on behalf of Sengun. Admittedly, I’ve wondered if OKC’s Jalen Williams should be the favorite to win the award, given the team’s success, his large role and reliability. Sure, he has a great supporting cast and plays alongside an MVP candidate, but should that matter when discussing a player’s improvement from one year to another? I predict Williams will win it next year, and it’ll continue to make me wonder if players are awarded MIP awards later than they deserve. I believe Sengun will eventually capture the award, but again, later than he probably should have.

To me, the most significant leap in improvement comes when a role player ascends to the level of a consistent, key contributor, perhaps even a star player. Voters see award-worthy improvement as a player realizing his potential. I value the former, but I can’t disagree with the latter’s logic.