CJ McCollum was the last Blazer to win the award back in 2016.
The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to take a collective step this upcoming season and move up in the Western Conference standings. But that collective step will likely require individual steps to be made throughout the roster.
When the Blazers improved their year-end win total by 15 last season, the growth was headlined by individual leaps from forwards Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara. The latter was honored by making the NBA All-Defensive Second Team; the former didn’t take home any awards, but he played like a man possessed during the second half of the season and will carry that momentum into year two with his new club. On the subject of national accolades, rookie Donovan Clingan also provided a boost, making All-Rookie Second Team.
Individual steps, awards and honors make up the theme of a three-part community discussion question series publishing on this rainy offseason Sunday in Rip City as we look ahead to the fast-approaching season. The series primarily wonders if Avdija and Camara can keep up their production, or find higher gears, and if any of their teammates can join them at the breakout party. More national accolades will almost assuredly mean more team success, and they’ll help legitimize Portland’s rebuild beyond potential and glass-half-full optimism.
Here’s Question No. 1: Will a Trail Blazer win the Most Improved Player Award for the 2025-26 season?
From this writer’s point of view, the Blazers roster three players who could be in for leap years and take home this hardware come next spring. But it’s not just me — a quick look at sporting books shows each of these players also carries national preseason buzz as primary candidates to win Most Improved.
Each player is listed below, along with their per-game averages from last season.
Deni Avdija — 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.7 turnovers, 30.0 minutes, 47.6% shooting from the field, 36.5% shooting on 3s, 78% shooting on free throws
Shaedon Sharpe — 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 31.3 minutes, 45.2% shooting from the field, 31.1% shooting on 3s, 78.5% shooting on free throws
Scoot Henderson — 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 2.7 turnovers, 26.7 minutes, 41.9% shooting from the field, 35.4% shooting on 3s, 76.7% shooting on free throws
What do you think, Blazer’s Edge community? Do you think one of these three players will be the Blazers’ first Most Improved winner since CJ McCollum won the award in 2016? Do you think one of them has a good shot, at least? Let us know in the comments below!
Category: General Sports
