Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FedExForum on April 16, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP
Memphis Grizzlies standout Ja Morant won the NBA Most Improved Player award on Monday.
Morant, 22, is the first player in Grizzlies franchise history to win the award. The NBA created it in 1985-86 to recognize the player who made the most drastic improvement from the previous season or seasons.
Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins presents @JaMorant with his 2021-22 KIA NBA Most Improved Player Award! #NBAAwards #KiaMIP #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/s9024kwNd9
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2022
The third-year Morant earned 38 first-place votes and finished with 221 points from a voting panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray finished in second place with 20 first-place votes and 183 points, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland grabbed third place with 11 first-place votes and 178 points.
Morant averaged career highs in points and rebounds while earning his first NBA All-Star selection this season. He finished with 27.4 points per game, which was an increase of 8.3 points from last season. He added 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field.
I believe in everyday life you want to be better at your profession & as a person all the time. It becomes a constant grind, so to receive this award is a true testament for the work I put into my craft on a daily basis and for that I’m truly grateful. 🙏🏽 MIP
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) April 25, 2022
The Grizzlies won 56 games during the regular season, matching a franchise record. They earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Julius Randle of the New York Knicks won the award in 2020-21. Previous winners include Brandon Ingram (2019-20), Pascal Siakam (2018-19), Victor Oladipo (2017-18) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2016-17).