Memphis Grizzlies: Kyle Anderson should be in conversation for MIP award

The Memphis Grizzlies have had solid year, but don’t have any players being considered for national recognition. Ja Morant has been his usual self, but missed out on the NBA All-Star game in his sophomore campaign.

We have not yet seen Jaren Jackson Jr., but he should be returning soon. However, Jackson Jr.’s absence has opened a door for certain Grizzlies players to step up.

We’ve seen rookies Xavier Tillman and Desmond Bane impress despite being overlooked and drafted later than expected. We’ve also seen great seasons out of players like De’Anthony Melton, Jonas Valanciunas, and Dillon Brooks.

But one Memphis Grizzlies player has stood above them all

Ja Morant’s supporting cast have all improved, but Kyle Anderson has given us a better season than anybody could have imagined. He might be the only Grizzlies player in the conversation for any awards.

That being said, the Most Improved Player award would still be a long shot. With the way Jerami Grant and others have been playing, he might not even crack the top five. But he should.

It’s probably hard to see if you’re not a Memphis Grizzlies fan, but he’s been incredibly important to this team’s success. It’s hard to say he’s been better than Ja Morant, but this team would not be sitting at .500 without their co-star if not for Anderson.

Since last year, he has increased his averages in every statistical category. That includes rebounds per game, assists per game, steals per game, and blocks per game. Even his point per game total has shot up, doubling since the 2019-2020 season.

His shooting percentages have risen across the board. Field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and free throw percentage have all seen considerable increases, even while shooting at a much higher volume than in previous years.

While the man we call “Slow-Mo” might not have eye-popping numbers, I would argue that he has improved as a player more than anybody being considered for the most improved player award. He’s not just being used more by the team, he’s actually giving Taylor Jenkins better minutes out on the court.

In fact, two years ago, he received more minutes on the court per game, but still scored significantly less points, dished out less assists, and grabbed fewer rebounds.

At some point, he became the most efficient player on this Grizzlies team and he’ll be a huge part of any future Grizzlies playoff runs. With the return of Jaren Jackson, his minutes might decrease slightly, but his value to this team will hold strong.