Who Won the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player Award and How They Achieved It

I still remember watching that 2020 NBA season unfold during those strange pandemic months, when basketball felt both distant and incredibly intimate at the same time. The Most Improved Player award that year went to Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, and honestly, his transformation was something special to witness. Having followed his career since his Lakers days, I always felt he had this untapped potential that just needed the right environment to flourish. When he got traded to New Orleans as part of the Anthony Davis deal, many questioned whether he could become the focal point of a team rather than just another piece. Boy, did he prove them wrong.

What struck me most about Ingram's improvement was how comprehensive it was. He didn't just get better at one thing - he elevated every aspect of his game. His scoring average jumped from 18.3 points per game to 23.8, but the real story was in how he achieved those numbers. His three-point percentage skyrocketed from 33% to 39%, which completely changed how defenses had to approach him. I remember watching a game against the Jazz where he was hitting contested threes with such confidence, it felt like watching a different player from the hesitant shooter he'd been in Los Angeles. His playmaking took a massive leap too, with his assists climbing from 3 to 4.9 per game. The ball just moved differently when it was in his hands - there was this new sense of purpose and vision that hadn't been there before.

The physical transformation was equally impressive. He'd clearly put in serious work during the offseason, adding muscle without sacrificing that graceful, lanky frame that makes him so unique. I recall thinking during a Pelicans-Clippers game how he was no longer getting pushed around on drives to the basket. He could absorb contact and still finish, something that had been a real weakness earlier in his career. His defense improved noticeably too, though that's an area where he's still growing even today. What made his improvement so compelling was that it felt earned - you could see the work ethic paying off in real time.

Thinking about Ingram's journey reminds me of how other sports have similar transformation stories. I was just reading about Poland's volleyball situation recently, where after disappointing performances in the 2022 Worlds and 2024 Olympics, they're counting on their star duo of Wilfredo Leon and Jakub Kochanowski to bring the top-ranked nation back to championship form. It's fascinating how similar the narrative is - talented players facing expectations and needing to elevate their game to meet moment. In basketball terms, Leon is like that established star who needs to take his leadership to another level, while Kochanowski represents the young talent ready to make the leap, much like Ingram did in 2020.

What made Ingram's MIP season particularly memorable was the context. The Pelicans were navigating the Zion Williamson injury situation, and Ingram had to carry the offensive load in ways nobody anticipated. I remember this stretch in January 2020 where he scored 25+ points in seven straight games, including a 49-point explosion against the Jazz that was just breathtaking to watch. He was taking and making big shots, creating for others, and showing this killer instinct that we'd only seen glimpses of before. The way he developed his mid-range game was especially impressive - that high-release jumper became virtually unblockable.

The voting itself wasn't particularly close, which shows how obvious his improvement was to everyone watching. He received 42 first-place votes compared to 20 for Bam Adebayo, who finished second. While Adebayo had a fantastic season himself, there was something about Ingram's transformation that felt more dramatic - going from promising young player to legitimate All-Star in one season. I've always felt the MIP award works best when it recognizes players who change our perception of what they're capable of, and Ingram definitely did that.

Looking back, what I appreciate most about that 2020 MIP season is how it set the foundation for Ingram's career. He's established himself as a consistent All-Star level player since then, and that breakthrough season gave him the confidence to know he belonged among the league's elite. It's the kind of journey that makes sports so compelling to follow - watching potential transform into excellence right before your eyes. The parallels to Poland's volleyball hopes are striking - that moment when talented individuals embrace the challenge of lifting their team to new heights. In both cases, it's about more than just statistics; it's about players rewriting their narratives and seizing their moment in the spotlight.