Tyrese Maxey finished sixth in the Most Improved Player voting two years ago, a tribute to the jump he made between his first and second seasons in the NBA.
Voters found his jump from third to fourth year even more impressive.
Philadelphia's All-Star guard was named the league's most improved this season on Tuesday night. Maxey's scoring peaked for the third straight year, and he finished the regular season averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game – all career bests.
It's not uncommon for players to see their numbers rise when given a new role, but that's not the case with Maxey. Consider: Two years ago, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 35.3 minutes per game. This year, he topped all of those numbers and averaged just 2.2 minutes per contest.
“It feels great,” Maxey said on the TNT broadcast where the award was announced. “Someone like me, who prides himself on putting in a lot of work, working people, and finding ways to get 1% better every time he steps into the gym, it's good to see that come to light.”
Greetings @TyreseMaxey 2023-24 to earn #gyamib Award! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/mY5qFjSOHa
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
Maxey edged out Chicago's Kobe White in the poll. Alberon Sengun of Houston finished third. White averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game – career highs. Chengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.5 minutes per game — and all-time career highs.
Maxey received more than half of the first-place votes, which put him ahead of White. Players receive five points for a first place vote, three for second and three for third place. Maxey finished with 305 points to 319, but White appeared on 91 ballots compared to 79 for Maxey.
Sengun finished third with 92 points.
The awards are selected by a panel of 99 reporters and broadcasters covering the league. Their ballots were due last week before the play-in tournament began. The NBA awards only consider the regular season.
Utah's Larry Markkanen won the MIP award last season. The other finalists from a year ago — Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and New York's Jalen Brunson — were MVP candidates this season, and both received MIP votes this year.
Remaining votes: Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams fourth, Brunson fifth, Washington's Denny Avtija sixth, Brooklyn's Cam Thomas seventh, Orlando's Jalen Suggs eighth, Indiana's Tyreese Halliburton ninth, Phoenix, Dougans, Grammys Donio's Devin Vassell and Gilgeous-Alexander duo 12th, Indiana's Aaron Nesmith finished 14th.
The MIP award is the first of seven individual trophies to be presented in the coming weeks, along with the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams.
