Lauri Markkanen was named the NBA's Most Improved Player

Lauri Markkanen, a forward with the Jazz, was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Monday, depriving Jalen Brunson of the chance to win the league-wide honour. With four of the 100 first-place votes, Brunson came in third, behind Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Markkanen. Julius Randle, a forward for the Knicks, and Jimmy Butler, a former guard for the Bulls, are the only players to get this honour while being coached by Tom Thibodeau.

Markkanen joined Utah this season after being acquired from the Cavaliers in the Donovan Mitchell deal, averaging 25.6 points per game. After signing a four-year, $104 million contract via free agency last summer, the Knicks' point guard averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists in 68 games. One of the Knicks' most important players this season had another offensively ineffective performance that went unnoticed in Game 4's valiant triumph against the Cavaliers.