Who Won the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player Award and How They Transformed Their Game

I still remember watching the 2020 NBA season unfold with particular interest in the Most Improved Player race, having followed basketball professionally for over a decade. When the announcement finally came that Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans had won the award, it felt both surprising and completely deserved - a rare combination in sports accolades. What fascinates me about Ingram's transformation isn't just the statistical leap, but how he fundamentally reinvented his game when many had already pigeonholed him as a certain type of player.

Ingram's numbers tell a compelling story of growth that still impresses me years later. His scoring average jumped from 18.3 points per game to 23.8 - that's nearly a 30% increase that doesn't happen by accident. But what really stood out to me was his three-point shooting transformation. He went from shooting 33% from deep to 39.1%, which in today's spacing-obsessed NBA represents the difference between being a liability and a legitimate threat. I've always believed that the true mark of player development isn't just improving what you're already good at, but addressing your weaknesses head-on, and Ingram did exactly that. His playmaking numbers saw a similar boost, with assists climbing from 3.0 to 4.2 per game, showing he was reading defenses better and making smarter decisions with the ball.

The physical transformation was equally remarkable. I recall seeing Ingram during his Lakers days - talented but almost fragile-looking at 190 pounds. By 2020, he'd added significant muscle mass while maintaining his fluidity, and this wasn't just cosmetic gym work. The added strength allowed him to finish through contact more effectively and hold his ground defensively against bigger opponents. What many casual observers miss about physical development in the NBA is that it's not just about getting bigger, but about building the right kind of strength for your game. Ingram clearly worked with trainers who understood his specific needs as a lengthy wing who needs to create space and absorb contact.

Watching his game film from that season, what struck me was how his improved conditioning changed his fourth-quarter performance. I've tracked that Ingram's scoring average in clutch situations nearly doubled compared to previous seasons. He was no longer fading in important moments - instead, he seemed to embrace taking big shots. This mental aspect of development often gets overlooked in favor of more tangible statistics, but in my experience covering the league, it's frequently the difference between good players and award winners.

The Pelicans' system under then-coach Alvin Gentry perfectly leveraged Ingram's evolving skills. They gave him the green light to operate in isolation situations while also incorporating more off-ball actions that took advantage of his improved shooting. I've always felt that team context is crucial for individual awards - put the same improving player in the wrong system, and their growth might never become apparent to voters. Ingram benefited from being the clear focal point of New Orleans' offense after the Anthony Davis trade, something that wouldn't have happened had he remained with the Lakers.

This kind of dramatic individual improvement reminds me of what we're seeing in international volleyball with Poland's current situation. After their disappointing performances in the 2022 Worlds and 2024 Olympics, Poland is banking heavily on their star duo of Wilfredo Leon and Jakub Kochanowski to return the top-ranked nation to its golden throne. Much like Ingram, these players didn't become stars overnight - their development pathways required specific coaching, system fit, and addressing particular weaknesses in their games. I've followed Leon's career for years, and his transformation from a good player to a world-class attacker involved technical refinements that aren't immediately obvious to casual observers, similar to how Ingram's footwork and shooting mechanics evolved gradually.

What separates the true Most Improved Players from merely good seasons is sustainability. Ingram didn't just have a hot streak - he maintained his elevated performance level throughout the season and has largely sustained it since. In my analysis of award winners over the years, the ones who represent genuine transformations rather than statistical anomalies are those whose improvements stem from fundamental changes in skills, physique, or basketball IQ. Ingram checked all three boxes, remaking his body, expanding his shooting range, and demonstrating better decision-making under pressure.

The voting results reflected how convincing his case was - Ingram received 42 first-place votes out of 100, comfortably ahead of Bam Adebayo's 38. I remember thinking at the time how this represented a shift in how voters evaluate improvement, placing more weight on players who expand their skillset beyond their natural position's traditional responsibilities. Ingram wasn't just a better scorer - he was a more complete basketball player.

Looking back, Ingram's 2020 season represents what I love most about basketball development stories. It wasn't about a player simply getting more minutes or opportunities, but about someone systematically addressing their weaknesses while enhancing their strengths. His journey from promising prospect to legitimate star serves as a blueprint for what meaningful player development looks like - comprehensive, sustainable, and context-aware. The Pelicans provided the perfect environment, but the work ethic and basketball intelligence came from Ingram himself. In a league where many young players plateau, his continued ascent remains one of the more satisfying development stories I've covered in recent NBA history.