Top 5 candidates for Most Improved Player award

#1 Victor Oladipo

Oladipo dunking in a game against the Phoenix Suns

2016-17 stats: 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks on 44.2% field goal percentage playing 33.2 minutes per game

2017-18 stats: 23.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.8 blocks on 47.4% field goal percentage playing 34.3 minutes per game

Victor Oladipo is the runaway favorite for this award, and deservingly so. Not only has he made an All-Star team this season, his superstar play this season warrants All-NBA consideration.

He has almost sealed the steals title this season, recording 2.3 per game. Without him playing this season, the Indiana Pacers have a 0-6 record, while they are 46-26 with him playing, and currently occupy 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Oladipo spent this offseason bulking up his body while working in South Beach under the mentorship of Dwyane Wade, a superstar who had similar athleticism in his prime.

Oladipo's most notable improvement is his ability to take and make pull-up 3-pointers at a high level now - he's knocking down 36.5% of his 5.9 3-point attempts this season. Oladipo has become the offensive lifeline of the Pacers, and it is his play that will dictate how deep a playoffs run the Pacers will make.