NBA: The top 7 candidates to win Most Improved Player of the Year

NBA Toronto Raptors Pascal Siakam (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
NBA Toronto Raptors Pascal Siakam (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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NBA Atlanta Hawks John Collins (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

4. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

2017-18 stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 1.1 bpg, 58% fg, 34% 3 pt, 72% ft

2018-19 stats: 19.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.4 bpg, 57% fg, 37% 3 pt, 76% ft

John Collins had a good rookie season for the Atlanta Hawks. In fact, he was one of the more underrated rookies in last year’s loaded class, but because he plays in Atlanta he’s been largely overlooked through his first two years in the league.

However, despite that, he’s now taken that promising first year and built on it in his second. He has added a 3-point shot and seems much more comfortable being a focal point of an NBA offense.

They may be tanking right now, but the Hawks are definitely building something with Trae Young and Collins looking like solid building blocks for the future.