NBA 2017-18: Most improved players

Kristaps Porzingis (PF, New York Knicks):

The Unicorn flying high and continuing to improve

It seems like a distant memory when New York Knicks fans booed in unison at the Barclays Center when the team's front office selected 20-year-old Latvian Kristaps Porzingis with the 4th pick in the NBA Draft.

That was June 25, 2015. How times have changed since then.

Two-and-a-half seasons on, the fans cannot seem to get enough of the 7ft 3in Latvian, who they lovingly refer to as 'the Unicorn'. Porzingis has made sure they continue to demand more from him and the rest of his team-mates every night with performances that gradually have improved over time.

Carmelo Anthony's departure meant the onus had shifted towards others to lead the team forward, with the Latvian in particular seen as their best player. It's something that he has done with aplomb and statistics justify praise for the youngster's performances too.

Currently averaging 25.5 points per game, it's a significant improvement from his 18.1 last season. His shooting percentage has increased by 2% to 47% while shooting from behind the arc has also gone up 5% to 40 this year.