Lauri Markkanen has been named the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year for the remarkable leap he took from role-player to All-Star within just one season.
Markkanen beat out Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the award, which generated a mixed reaction from fans.
The 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player is… Lauri Markkanen!#KiaMIP#NBAAwards@Kia pic.twitter.com/d41McU0Ras
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2023
The voting showed that Markkanen won the award convincingly with way more 1st place votes than Brunson or SGA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second behind Lauri Markkanen for Most Improved Player.
SGA received 24 1st place votes. Markkanen received 69 1st place votes. pic.twitter.com/ClineK6VN8
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) April 24, 2023
Knicks fans weren’t happy to see their new starting point guard finish third after a breakout season as well.
Knicks robbed again BUT OH WELL WE WINNING PLAYOFF GAMES
— EverythingKnicks (@EverythinKnicks) April 24, 2023
Another fan was happy that Markkanen won it over SGA.
a more deserved than SGA imo
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) April 24, 2023
Fans continued sending their good wishes for Lauri after the award win.
Well deserved
— Ali *⃟+⃟ (@aligolas_) April 24, 2023
The Finnish forward is serving in the military right now, causing fans to admire him even more.
he won an award and is currently fighting in combat… what can’t he do
— 𐌌𐌀𐌕𐌕 ☘️ (@DeuceX7uice) April 24, 2023
Knicks fans were still very upset about Brunson not winning the award.
Brunson robbed
— Jalen Brunson enthusiast (@GothamCityM) April 24, 2023
One fan was happy to see Markkanen go from fighting for his job in the NBA to now being named an All-Star this season.
Arc from almost out of the League to All-Star in one year is crazy Congrats
— pissboi (@PizzafaceJake) April 24, 2023
Markkanen has gone from averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists last season on the Cleveland Cavaliers to an in incredible 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 66 games this season. This was a deserved win that Markkanen will need to wait to enjoy, as he is currently serving in the Finnish military.
Did Lauri Markkanen Deserve The Award?
Even though the battle was a three-horse race, Markkanen was the most obvious winner. Brunson had shown flashes of his superstar talent last season with the Dallas Mavericks, while Shai has always been regarded as one of the best young players in the NBA. Lauri was an afterthought in the Donovan Mitchell trade to Cleveland and has shocked even his most optimistic fans.
Emerging as an All-Star and coming close to taking the Jazz to the playoffs despite the repeated trades they made to thin their roster out shows Markkanen has a bright future still.
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