Top 5 candidates for Most Improved Player award

#3 Brandon Ingram

Ingram drives against the New York Knicks

2016-17 stats: 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks on 40.2% field goal percentage playing 28.9 minutes per game

2017-18 stats: 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks on 47% field goal percentage playing 33.5 minutes per game

The #2 pick in the 2016 NBA draft Brandon Ingram is starting to justify his selection by the Los Angeles Lakers, submitting a good campaign through 59 games of the 2017-18 before going down with a groin strain.

Playing only 4:36 more minutes per game, Ingram has raised his scoring average by 6.7 points, his field goal percentage by 6.8% and his 3-point percentage from a pedestrian 29.4% to a borderline elite 39.0%.

Not just this, Ingram took over playmaking duties when Lonzo Ball sat out six weeks due to injury trouble from mid-January to late February, and he did pretty well in that role.

Ingram is using his length to finish drives at a higher rate than last season, and up until 50 games of the regular season, he led the league in drives over Russell Westbrook.

Ingram has eschewed tough shots in favor of making the right basketball plays, and it has shown in increased number across the board.