NBA Power Rankings: Each team's most improved player
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore’s basketball editors.
This week, we’re identifying each team’s most improved player for the 2023-24 season.
1. Boston Celtics (51-14)
Previous: 1
Payton Pritchard. Boston rewarded its backup guard with a four-year contract extension, and the Oregon product has delivered in an expanded role. Pritchard’s among the league leaders in both net rating and assist-to-turnover ratio.
2. Denver Nuggets (46-20)
Previous: 4
Peyton Watson. A young contributor on a team stacked with veterans, Watson has more than doubled his minutes in his sophomore season and is one of the NBA’s best shot-blocking guards.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-20)
Previous: 2
Jalen Williams. It turns out coming second in Rookie of the Year voting was just the tip of the iceberg. Williams is well on his way to being a perennial 20-point scorer with burgeoning playmaking skills.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-21)
Previous: 3
Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves will only go as far as Ant-Man can take them, but Minnesota has to feel good about its chances with Edwards’ jump this season. He’s fifth in total points this campaign.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (41-23)
Previous: 5
Amir Coffey. The fifth-year wing has been a reliable floor-spacing threat and capable starter when called upon. Coffey is averaging 11.3 points on 52.1% shooting across 10 appearances in the Clippers’ first five.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (42-24)
Previous: 7
Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s tough to pick a MIP candidate for the veteran-laden Bucks, but the Greek Freak has taken a noteworthy jump in one area – he’s recording a career-best 62.9% effective field-goal percentage.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-24)
Previous: 6
Sam Merrill. After playing a combined 41 games in his first three NBA seasons, the sharpshooter has been a godsend for the shorthanded Cavaliers, hitting 40.8% of his 272 attempts from long range.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (39-26)
Previous: 8
Zion Williamson. The best ability is availability. Zion only played 29 games over the previous two seasons and has appeared in 54 so far in 2023-24. He’s the Pelicans’ best player and the biggest reason New Orleans has the league’s fifth-best point differential.
9. Phoenix Suns (38-27)
Previous: 10
Grayson Allen. Raise your hand if you had Allen leading the league in 3-point percentage on your NBA bingo card. His shooting around the Suns’ Big Three has been an integral part of their offensive success.
10. New York Knicks (38-27)
Previous: 9
Donte DiVincenzo. The Villanova product is having a breakout year in his first campaign in the Big Apple. DiVincenzo is averaging a career-high 14.3 points and on pace to break the Knicks’ single-season record for threes.
11. Dallas Mavericks (38-28)
Previous: 11
Dante Exum. After playing overseas for the last two seasons, Exum’s NBA return has been productive. The former No. 5 pick is having his best scoring campaign (8.4 points per game) ever as a quality reserve.
12. Sacramento Kings (38-27)
Previous: 13
Malik Monk. The former lottery pick is arguably the front-runner for Sixth Man of the Year. Monk has provided steady scoring off the bench and showed improved playmaking ability.
13. Orlando Magic (38-28)
Previous: 14
Jalen Suggs. Suggs may not be the offensive threat he was projected to become, but he’s made marked improvements from deep this year (39.5%) and has developed into one of the league’s feared perimeter defenders.
14. Miami Heat (35-30)
Previous: 12
Duncan Robinson. In a resurgent campaign, the 29-year-old is averaging career highs in most major statistical categories just a season removed from being considered one of the worst contracts in the league.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (36-29)
Previous: 15
Tyrese Maxey. Handed the keys to primary perimeter duties with the departure of James Harden, first-time All-Star Maxey has taken a leap, cementing himself as the Sixers’ next big-time scoring guard for years to come.
16. Indiana Pacers (37-30)
Previous: 17
Obi Toppin. The high-flying forward has been a seamless fit in the Pacers’ up-tempo offense. He’s averaging a career-best mark in points (10.3 per game) and ranks third on the team in effective field-goal percentage (64.8%).
17. Los Angeles Lakers (36-31)
Previous: 18
Rui Hachimura. With injuries galore in L.A., the Lakers have required Hachimura to play a multitude of roles, and he’s been mighty efficient all season, hitting 52.4% of his shots and 41.6% of his threes.
18. Golden State Warriors (34-31)
Previous: 16
Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors have gone 15-8 since Steve Kerr made Kuminga a full-time starter in late January. Still only 21, the former top-10 pick is starting to fulfill his potential, averaging a career-high 16.1 points.
19. Houston Rockets (30-35)
Previous: 22
Alperen Sengun. Now likely to miss the rest of the season due to injury, Sengun had been absolutely fantastic this season. Besides the Turkish center, the other six players averaging 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists this season are multi-time All-Stars.
20. Atlanta Hawks (29-36)
Previous: 20
Jalen Johnson. Only Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are getting more minutes per game for Atlanta than Johnson. The former Duke star has emerged in his third season, averaging career highs in every major category.
21. Chicago Bulls (32-34)
Previous: 19
Coby White. After starting two games last season for the Bulls, White’s been a mainstay in the first five during this campaign. He’s also increased his 3-point accuracy, shooting 38.8% from deep.
22. Utah Jazz (28-37)
Previous: 21
Collin Sexton. The 25-year-old guard has looked comfortable since moving into a full-time starting role in mid-December. Sexton has excelled as both a scorer and playmaker, averaging 21.2 points and 5.5 assists in 42 starts.
23. Brooklyn Nets (26-40)
Previous: 25
Cam Thomas. The LSU product has made a sizable leap in his third NBA campaign. Thomas is doubling his production from a year ago, averaging 21.3 points and shooting 37.2% from distance.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (23-44)
Previous: 24
Desmond Bane. Memphis handed Bane the keys to the offense with Ja Morant only appearing in nine games. In this larger role, Bane has shown that he is a proficient playmaker, averaging a career-best 28.8% assist rate.
25. Toronto Raptors (23-43)
Previous: 23
Immanuel Quickley. While RJ Barrett is shooting the lights out since being acquired from the Knicks in December, Quickley has experienced an uptick in points (18.2), assists (6.6), and 3-point percentage (40.9%) as a Raptor.
26. San Antonio Spurs (14-52)
Previous: 26
Devin Vassell. Since Victor Wembanyama isn’t an option here, Vassell’s rise in both scoring and shooting efficiency gets the nod. He, Wemby, and an efficient point guard will become one heck of a trio one day.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (19-46)
Previous: 28
Jabari Walker. Slim pickings on a young team with a lot of injuries, but the Blazers may have found a rotation piece in Walker. The second-year player’s minutes, points, and rebounds have more than doubled this season.
28. Charlotte Hornets (17-49)
Previous: 27
Nick Richards. Taking over the starting center spot for the injured Mark Williams in December, Richards is averaging 10.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 68.3% field-goal shooting since the promotion.
29. Detroit Pistons (12-53)
Previous: 29
Simone Fontecchio. Identifying MIP candidates on basement-dwelling teams is a challenge, but Fontecchio has improved his game since the Jazz traded him to the Pistons, averaging 15 points in Detroit.
30. Washington Wizards (11-54)
Previous: 30
Deni Avdija. Avdija has never shot the ball well enough to be considered a three-and-D player – his career-best mark from three was 31% before this year. This season, he’s knocking down 39.7% of his attempts from downtown.
