NBA Most Improved Player 2021: January Power Rankings

#3 Jaylen Brown

Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers

In the absence of Kemba Walker, it was worried that the Celtics offense would struggle to overcome early season opposition such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers. However, the Celtics rushed out to an 8-3 record thanks in no small part to Jaylen Brown's continued improvement on and off the ball.

Brown, who averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds in last season's Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat has picked up where he left off, so far averaging 26.9 points and 6 rebounds. Brown has not only improved his scoring, but is taking more shots, finding more success with those shots and is making a career-high 41.6% of attempts from beyond the 3-point line.

#4 Julius Randle

New York Knicks' Julius Randle scores

For the first season in a long time, the New York Knicks' fanbase has a team to be excited about. At power forward, Julius Randle has become the side's standout star and has improved across each aspect of his game, scoring 22.6 points, grabbing 11.6 rebounds and dishing out 6.2 assists. The 26-year-old has emerged as one of the most versatile players in the league, also developing his 3-point percentage and free-throw shooting.

Coach Thibodeau has developed the Knicks into playoff contenders and they currently have the 6th meanest defense in the league. If Randle can stay fit, the Knicks will continue to upset teams along the way, including their comfortable wins over the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, in which the forward averaged 18 points and 14.5 rebounds.

#5 Chris Boucher

Toronto Raptors Chris Boucher battles with Anthony Davis

Although playing in a currently struggling Toronto Raptors, Chris Boucher has emerged as one of the franchise's standout talents and is already in NBA Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year conversations. With Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol out of the way, Boucher has flourished as one of Toronto's saviours after the opening 15 games of the season.

Chris Boucher has been a diamond in the rough for the Raptors this season. 💎 pic.twitter.com/jyDyb3xGjJ

— theScore (@theScore) January 19, 2021

In only his 4th season in the league, Boucher has exponentially improved his performances and is now averaging 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks having been given consistent minutes. Toronto have been screaming out for production from the center position this season and Boucher has been able to provide that. The 28-year-old tied a franchise record earlier in the season when he scored 15 points or more off the bench in 6 consecutive games.