Rip City Project
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End-of-Season Awards: Portland Trail Blazers Edition

By Nate Mann

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 10: The Portland Trail Blazers celebrate a win against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 10: The Portland Trail Blazers celebrate a win against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Shabazz Napier #6 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Shabazz Napier #6 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player

I probably wouldn’t have said Nurkic was the MIP if I’d been asked this question at mid-season. For much of the early part of the 2017-2018 campaign, Nurkic was prone to missing easy shots — dunk the ball, Nurk! — and sulking when he was frustrated.

But he upped his game in the second half of the season and showed Rip City glimpses of the kind of versatile center he can be. Nurk’s season averages in points, rebounds, assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage were all better than his career averages. He has much room for improvement — maybe I’ll give him this award next year, too! — and he’ll be just 24 years old when next season tips off.

In the 2016-17 NBA season, Shabazz played 53 games, starting only two. He
averaged 4.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 9.7 minutes per game. This season, however, he stepped it up in a big way. Shabazz played 74 games, starting nine. He recorded 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 20.7 minutes of play per game. Napier is the clear cut Most Improved Player of the Portland Trail Blazers.