Detroit Pistons: Why Jerami Grant should win MIP over Randle and Porter

The 2021 NBA Award Finalists have been announced, and Detroit Pistons star Jerami Grant has been named a candidate for Most Improved Player. Grant has strong competition with New York’s All-Star Julius Randle and Denver’s Micheal Porter Jr. Randle and Porter both have cases to deserve the award, but honestly, Grant should be the winner.

Personally, I agree with my fellow writer Aaron Kellerstrass and think Randle will take home the MIP award. He plays in the largest market and for a surprising Eastern Conference contender and was the only of the three to be named an All-Star. However, he should have the worst shot at winning it, from an objective view.

Randle has a very good supporting cast. While he is the best player on a playoff team, the Knicks are a well-rounded team that plays efficient run and gun basketball. Tom Thibodeau has been one of the best coaches in the NBA, and Randle’s stats don’t point to the massive improvement he has been touted as exhibiting this season.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant’s case for Most Improved Player

Randle’s shot efficiency has been better than in past years, but not by much. His points per game are also the highest of his career, but again, not by much. All of his other stats are not exceptionally better than his have been in years past.

Micheal Porter Jr has a very different case. His points have doubled since last year, which could have been his rookie year if you ask Ben Simmons, or not if you ask Donovan Mitchell. He is also a much more efficient scorer than he was last season. However, this is only his second season of NBA basketball, so significant improvement is to be expected.

It should also be noted that Porter is playing with MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic, who is one of the best passers in the league. On top of that, Jamal Murray has been out for the last stretch of the season, giving Porter more opportunities. Should the MIP award be given to a player due to the loss of others, and not a clear-cut improvement by that individual?

Grant, on the other hand, plays on by far the worst team out of the Pistons, Knicks, and Nuggets. He is also far and away the best player on that team after being a career third option or worse. He was a fringe All-Star who improved and almost doubled several offensive categories while playing only six minutes more per game.

I understand that Randle plays on one of the most appealing NBA teams in the largest sports market in the world, and Porter is a feel-good story after being injured in college and his rookie year, but the Motor City should be home to the 2021 MIP candidate if common sense prevails.