Jalen Brunson has become the second Knicks player in three years to be nominated for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. Julius Randle capped a career season two years ago when he took home the same trophy.
But the two also have something else in common. They were nominated for the award in years when they played more like MVPs.
And yet, the favorites there are Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounpmo, all dominant centers. Brunson isn’t even in the conversation when he has the Knicks back in the playoffs and looking like proper contenders?