New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle of Dallas, Texas has won the 2021 National Basketball Association most improved player award according to Rogers Sportsnet on Tuesday. Randle becomes the first player in Knicks franchise history to receive the honour. On Monday, Jordan Clarkson became the first Utah Jazz player in franchise history to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
The fact that Randle won the award should not come as a surprise. Earlier this month, Randle was among a list of five players The Sporting Base recognized who exceeded expectations in 2020-21.
In 2019-20, Randle averaged 19.5 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game, a field goal percentage of .460, a three-point percentage of .277, and a free throw percentage of .733. In the six aforementioned categories, Randle improved his statistics in 2020-21 in five of them. This season, he averaged 24.1 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, six assists per game, a three-point percentage of .411, and a free throw percentage of .811. The only statistic Randle saw a small reduction in was field goal percentage, where he dropped four percentage points from .460 down to .456.
It should be noted that due to the improved performance in 2020-21, Randle played more. He saw his minutes rise from 32.5 minutes per game to 37.6 minutes per game. That was increase of 5.1 minutes this year from last year, and his 37.6 minutes per game led the NBA.
Randle was also instrumental in helping improve the Knicks when it came to the win column. Last year the Knicks missed the playoffs with a record of 21 wins and 45 losses. In 2021, the Knicks have gone from 24 games below .500 to 10 games above .500 at 41 wins and 31 losses.
The main focus for Randle and the Knicks at the moment is to get by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Playoffs. The Hawks lead the best-out-of-seven series one game to none.
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