Memphis Grizzlies: First Quarter Awards

Most Improved Player: Dillon Brooks

Maybe this is more of a comeback than an improvement, but either way, it’s welcome.

Dillon Brooks looked like one of the 2017 Draft’s biggest steals after his rookie campaign. Taken 45th overall, Brooks was a rare bright spot in a season of unintentional tanking for Memphis. He would’ve made the hypothetical All-Rookie Third Team, in what at the time looked like a super-stacked class.

Then came a disappointing sophomore campaign. Brooks was inconsistent, and ultimately limited to 18 games due to injury.

A year removed from proving himself, and perhaps behind on development, Brooks has come back with an enthusiastic start to 2019-20. He’s every bit the smart irritant he was on defense as a rookie, and has shown primacy as the rare Grizzly to competently create his own shot. Memphis is 5-0 in games where Brooks drops 20+ this year, flashing much-needed scoring potential.

Pundits will scorn Dillon’s eyesore .390 shooting clip, but this can be chalked up to bad variance. Brooks’ current .396 mark on two-pointers is far below his .484 as a rookie. Meanwhile, his 3-point shooting is up to a borderline-elite 37.9% on 4.5 attempts; it’s highly unlikely his scoring touch is busted.

When Brooks’ shot inside the arc begins to normalize, his scoring will only rise with it. In a season where Memphis’ long-term wing rotation seemed like a large question mark, Brooks has solidified himself as a keeper.