As we approach the end of the regular season, we can take a look at the players who have made the biggest leaps during the 2020-21 campaign.
While there is already an award for the NBA’s Most Improved Player, with emerging stars Julius Randle and Jerami Grant the current favorites to take home the hardware, that trophy is typically given to players who have made a stride on offense.
But just as important, especially for championship contention, is defensive prowess. Players need to become two-way players in order to maximize their potential in the NBA.
After such a long offseason, where many had ample time to improve their games, there are several who stand out as those who have been able to make those leaps in 2020-21.
Below are some of the players around the league who have most improved their game on the defensive side of the floor since last season.
Note that players like Mike Conley, who have historically been very good defenders but had an atypically rough season last year, were not included in this exercise.