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Milwaukee Bucks: Who Deserves the Most Improved Player Award?

By Lukas Harkins

Apr 3, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), forward Jabari Parker (12) and guard Tyler Ennis (11) during the game against the Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Chicago won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), forward Jabari Parker (12) and guard Tyler Ennis (11) during the game against the Chicago Bulls at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Chicago won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) drives for the basket around San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) drives for the basket around San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Case for Jabari Parker

Before delving too deep into the improvements of Major Cat, let’s look at his statistics from last year to this as a baseline to start from.

Season Age Pos G MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% eFG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2015-16 20 PF 76 31.7 5.8 11.8 .493 0.1 0.5 .257 .498 2.3 3.0 .768 5.2 1.7 0.9 0.4 1.5 2.0 14.1
2016-17 21 PF 37 34.1 8.1 16.2 .498 1.4 3.5 .414 .543 3.1 4.2 .735 5.8 2.6 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.1 20.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Above all, the two biggest jumps in Jabari’s game have come in the manner of scoring and three-point shooting. As seen from both Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler in previous years, an increase of at least five points per game to over 20 is what has been shown to recently have an impact.

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But, it is not just scoring that is the kicker for Jabari. His three-point percentage of 41.4 percent is absolutely terrific. In fact, this number registered as the 20th-best mark in the entire NBA from distance. Taking in the idea that he shot just 25.7 percent last season, there are almost no words to describe this sudden ability to knock down the trifecta.

As another added bonus, this gain in three-point percentage comes along with an upturn in volume. In comparison to shooting just 0.5 attempts per game a year ago, Parker is not shooting exactly three more attempts from behind the arc per game this time around.

But his scoring increase is not just attributed to his newfound ability to bury threes. His field goal percentage has not suffered one bit from last season to this, despite attempting more shots from the field.

Another interesting point is the amount of shooting fouls he has drawn in comparison to last. For the 2015-2016 season, Major Cat drew 1.42 shooting fouls per game. This time around, however, Jabari’s aggressiveness and name recognition has gotten that average up to 2.05 per game, a statistic that is undervalued for a player so focused on attacking the basket.

And speaking of fearless attackers of the rim, Giannis Antetokounmpo also has a great chance to win the award thanks in part to his relentless driving to the basket.

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