Evidently, making a jump from All-Star reserve to bonafide superstar production is good for fourth place in the NBA’s Kia Most Improved Player (MIP) race.
Or so it played out for Boston Celtic swingman Jayson Tatum, who garnered fourth place in MIP voting according to NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg.
Tatum wasn’t without recognition for nearly doubling his offensive output from his second year in the month of February and March before the hiatus (awards only accounted for pre-hiatus play this season), but it is a whole season award.
The Duke product garnered 57 total points (including three first-place and seven second-place votes), trailing only winner Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.
Jayson Tatum finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting, including three first-place votes. pic.twitter.com/dGjbvFy3vz
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) August 31, 2020
In his sophomore season in the league, Tatum put up 15.7 points, 6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game; after being named an All-Star reserve at the end of January, the St. Louis native logged 29.2 points, 7.6 boards and 3.3 assists per game.
Teammate Jaylen Brown made a showing as well, tied for a distant 11th place with Washington Wizards swingman Davis Bertans with three total points, all third-place votes.
