2025-11-15 15:01
I still remember watching that 2020 NBA season with particular interest, partly because the Most Improved Player race felt unusually wide open that year. Having followed basketball professionally for over a decade, I've developed a keen eye for players who make that significant leap from role player to impact player. When the announcement finally came that Brandon Ingram had won the 2020 Most Improved Player award, I wasn't surprised—but I was fascinated by just how dramatically he had transformed his game.
What made Ingram's improvement so remarkable was how he addressed his most glaring weaknesses while amplifying his strengths. I've always believed that true improvement isn't just about scoring more points—it's about expanding your game in ways that make your team better. Ingram did exactly that. His scoring jumped from 18.3 points per game to 23.8, but more importantly, his three-point percentage skyrocketed from 33% to 39.1%. That transformation didn't happen by accident. I spoke with several NBA trainers that offseason who mentioned how Ingram had completely rebuilt his shooting mechanics, putting up thousands of shots daily to develop the consistency that had previously eluded him.
The Pelicans' situation perfectly positioned Ingram for this breakout. With Anthony Davis moving to Los Angeles, New Orleans needed someone to step up as the primary offensive option, and Ingram seized that opportunity in ways that reminded me of how other great players have responded to increased responsibility. His usage rate climbed to 28.5%, and he demonstrated a versatility in his offensive game that we hadn't seen during his Lakers tenure. What impressed me most was his playmaking development—his assists per game increased from 3.0 to 4.2, showing he had evolved beyond being just a scorer into someone who could orchestrate offense.
Watching Ingram that season, I noticed subtle changes in his decision-making that statistics alone can't fully capture. He developed a better sense of when to attack, when to facilitate, and perhaps most importantly, when to defer. His basketball IQ seemed to make that same jump his physical skills did. The Pelicans' system under Alvin Gentry gave him the freedom to operate in space, and Ingram took full advantage, often serving as the primary ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations where he could use his length and improved shooting to create advantages.
This kind of dramatic improvement reminds me of what we're seeing in other sports with players who make similar leaps. Looking at volleyball, for instance, Poland's national team is banking on their own heralded duo of Wilfredo Leon and Jakub Kochanowski to elevate their performance after disappointing finishes in the 2022 Worlds and 2024 Olympics. Much like Ingram, these athletes face the challenge of not just maintaining their existing skills but expanding their games to meet heightened expectations. Having watched Leon play, I'm struck by how similar his development trajectory has been to Ingram's—both players recognized specific areas needing improvement and dedicated themselves to addressing those weaknesses systematically.
What separates the true Most Improved Players from merely good athletes is their mental approach to the game. Ingram didn't just work on his shooting; he studied film to understand defensive schemes and learned how to exploit them. His defensive rating improved from 114 to 109, reflecting his commitment to becoming a two-way player rather than just an offensive specialist. This comprehensive approach to improvement is what I believe every aspiring athlete should emulate. It's not enough to work on what you're already good at—you have to confront your weaknesses head-on.
The voting results reflected how undeniable Ingram's improvement had become. He received 42 first-place votes and 326 total points, comfortably ahead of Bam Adebayo's 295 points. Having covered previous MIP races, I found this margin particularly telling—it demonstrated that voters recognized not just the statistical improvement but the qualitative leap in his overall impact on games. His player efficiency rating jumped from 13.8 to 18.4, while his true shooting percentage climbed from 55.5% to 59.1%. These aren't just incremental improvements; they represent a fundamental elevation in how effectively he contributed to winning basketball.
Reflecting on Ingram's journey, I'm reminded that professional growth often comes down to opportunity meeting preparation. The Pelicans gave him the opportunity, but his relentless work ethic prepared him to capitalize on it. This pattern repeats across sports—whether we're talking about NBA players making their leap or volleyball stars like Leon and Kochanowski working to bring Poland back to championship form. The common thread is the willingness to embrace pressure and the discipline to transform potential into consistent performance.
Ingram's 2020 season stands as a blueprint for meaningful athletic development. He didn't just put up better numbers on a worse team—he genuinely expanded his skill set, improved his efficiency, and elevated his impact on both ends of the floor. As I look at current players who might follow in his footsteps, I'm watching for that same combination of statistical growth and tangible improvement in basketball intelligence. The Most Improved Player award will always be one of my favorites because it celebrates not just achievement but transformation—and Ingram's 2020 season represented one of the most compelling transformations I've witnessed in my years covering the NBA.
