Who Was the Most Improved Player in the NBA 2021 Season and Why?

When I look back at the 2021 NBA season, one name consistently stands out in the Most Improved Player conversation - and that's Julius Randle. Now I know some analysts might argue for Jerami Grant's breakout season in Detroit or Michael Porter Jr.'s offensive explosion in Denver, but having watched nearly every Knicks game that year, I can tell you Randle's transformation was something special. The numbers don't lie - he jumped from 19.5 points per game to 24.1 while increasing his assists from 3.1 to a career-high 6.0. But what impressed me more was how he became the undisputed leader of a Knicks team that shocked the basketball world by finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference.

I remember watching Randle during his Lakers and Pelicans days thinking he was just another talented but inefficient volume scorer. The guy shot a miserable 27% from three-point range the previous season, yet in 2021 he transformed into a 41% shooter from deep. That's not just improvement - that's a complete reinvention of his game. The way he developed his playmaking ability while maintaining his rebounding dominance (10.2 rebounds per game) showed me he'd put in the work during that shortened offseason. His usage rate increased to 28% while his turnover percentage actually decreased, which is incredibly difficult to do when you're handling the ball more frequently.

What many casual fans might not appreciate is how Randle's improvement went beyond statistics. He became the emotional center of a franchise that had been wandering in the wilderness for years. I recall one particular game against the Warriors where he hit that game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer - the look of pure confidence on his face told you this wasn't the same player who used to shrink in big moments. His defensive rating improved from 108 to 105, and while that might not sound dramatic, when you're carrying the offensive load he was, any defensive improvement is significant.

The voting results confirmed what I'd been seeing all season - Randle received 98 out of 100 possible first-place votes for the MIP award. That near-unanimous selection speaks volumes about how obvious his improvement was to everyone covering the league. Some players improve their scoring, others their efficiency, but Randle managed to elevate every aspect of his game while simultaneously changing the culture of his team. The Knicks improved from 21-45 the previous season to 41-31 under his leadership - that's a 20-game swing that doesn't happen without Randle's development.

Now, I should address the elephant in the room - some critics point to his playoff struggles as evidence that his improvement wasn't "real." But having played competitive basketball myself at the collegiate level, I can tell you that playoff defenses are entirely different beasts. The Hawks threw double and triple teams at him that he hadn't seen during the regular season, and while he certainly struggled, that doesn't invalidate the incredible regular season he had. If anything, it gave him something to work on for the following year.

When I compare Randle's improvement to other candidates, what stands out is the completeness of his transformation. Jerami Grant increased his scoring from 12 to 22.3 points per game, but his team remained near the bottom of the standings. Michael Porter Jr. became more efficient, but his role didn't expand in the same way Randle's did. Christian Wood put up nice numbers for Houston, but let's be honest - someone has to score on bad teams. Randle's improvement translated directly to winning basketball, and in my book, that counts for more than empty statistics.

The reference to calf injuries in our knowledge base actually reminds me of how Randle managed to stay healthy throughout that condensed season. While other stars were dealing with various nagging injuries, Randle appeared in all 72 games, averaging 37.6 minutes per contest. That durability alone deserves recognition - improving your skills means nothing if you can't stay on the court to showcase them. His conditioning work during the offseason clearly paid dividends, allowing him to maintain his production despite the increased workload.

Looking back, what I find most impressive about Randle's MIP season is how he proved that dramatic improvement is possible even for established veterans. We often think of the Most Improved Player as a third-year player making "the leap," but Randle was in his seventh season when he transformed his game. It shows that with the right work ethic and coaching, players can continue developing long after we've written them off. Tom Thibodeau's system certainly helped, but systems don't execute themselves - it took Randle's dedication to make it work.

As someone who's followed the NBA for over two decades, I've seen many MIP winners come and go, but Randle's case feels different. His improvement wasn't just statistical - it was foundational. He rebuilt his shooting form, expanded his basketball IQ, and embraced leadership responsibilities that he'd previously shied away from. The Knicks haven't had a homegrown star of his caliber in years, and his development gave that fanbase something they'd been craving - legitimate hope. While other candidates had compelling cases, Randle's combination of statistical improvement, cultural impact, and dramatic team success made him the clear choice for the 2021 Most Improved Player award. Sometimes the voters get it right, and this was definitely one of those times.