Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the Most Improved Player of the 2016-17 season, edging out Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz for the coveted award.
Antetokounmpo became only the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in all the five major statistical categories, putting up career-bests in every single one of them, averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game through 80 games in the season.
The Greek Freak has displayed every bit of the evolution he was expected to be this season, leading a Bucks team in the absence of his wingman, Jabari Parker, who missed the last 30 games of the season with another ACL injury.
Antetokounmpo can still get even better as evolving his three-point shot is the clear next step in his game — a tool which will make him that much more of a nightmare in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 2016-17 KIA NBA Most Improved Player of the Year! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/8QHUDPEUBI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
The 6-foot-11, 222-pound hybrid forward was 6.0 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 0.4 steals better than in his 2015-16 season, despite playing identical minutes under head coach Jason Kidd.
Antetokounmpo was not able to accept his award, as he went back to his native Greece during the offseason.
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