Written by Rafael Hagopjanian (@RafaelHagopjani)
10. Don Maclean (1993-94) Washington Bullets, 18.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 50.2 FG%, 5.6 WS
Career Averages: 10.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 45.5 FG%, 1.0 WS
Don Maclean, otherwise known as the highest scoring player in Pac-12 history, really maxed out his potential during his UCLA days. After he was drafted 19th overall, Don Maclean didn't have a fantastic rookie year averaged only 6.6 points and 2 rebounds a game. His second year was monstrous and many people thought he had his abilities from college back, which prompted him into getting the 1993 Most Improved Award. Too bad they really weren't as Don Maclean is the first person to be banned from the NBA for performance-enhancing drugs.
9. Bobby Simmons (2004-05) Los Angeles Clippers, 16.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 6.8 WS
Career Averages: 9.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 2.0 WS
Bobby Simmons, the OG Clipper himself, had a really weird one good year. He was a solid role player on the Clippers this year, and it seemed like a breakout year for him as he was one of the many who won the Most Improved Player award in the years posted here.
8. Aaron Brooks (2009-10) Houston Rockets 19.6 PPG, 5.3 APG, 43.2 FG%, 5.5 WS
Career Averages: 11.6 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.5 FG%, 2.5 WS
Aaron Brooks looks like he must have lost a step after he came back from China, because he certainly doesn't look like he'll get his form back. And guess what? Aaron Brooks won the Most Improved Player in 2010 as well. I hope for his sake that he succeeds on the Rockets this year, and he could possibly regain massive respect in the NBA.
7. Larry Drew (1982-83) Kansas City Royals 20.1 PPG, 8.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 7.2 WS
Career Averages: 11.4 PPG, 5.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.4 WS
The current Milwaukee Buck coach was actually a pretty good baller back in the day, especially in the 1983 season. As part of the Kansas City Royals (known as the Sacramento Kings now), he averaged more than 17 points and 8 for the only time in his career. He was a statistical legend in this year, and he was even the leader on his team in points.
6. Michael Adams (1990-91) Denver Nuggets 26.5 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG, 6.3 WS
Career Averages: 14.7 PPG, 6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 4.3 WS
Michael Adams is one of the few players on this list that is a one-time all-star as well but not even for this season. Michael Adams was a premier three point shooter, and the year after this 1991 season it seems the NBA felt bad about Adams not being an all-star in the previous year. Although Michael Adams had a 39.4% FG Percentage this year, the stats Adams had in this year are Magic-esque.
5. Eddy Curry (2006-07) New York Knicks 19.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 57.6 FG%, 4.7 WS
Career Averages: 12.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 54.5 FG% , 2.0 WS
Eddy Curry (before he got even fatter) was actually a solid center for the Knicks in the 06-07 season. Sadly for Knicks fan, this was a contract year and Curry never got even close to the same form he had during that year. Although he didn't win Most Improved Player, several Knick fans know this is as the only season during the late 2000s where the Knicks seemed like they had any real hope.
4. Mike James (2005-06) Toronto Raptors 20.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 44.2 3PFG%, 7.6 WS
Career Averages: 10.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.9 WS
Mike James has been a serviceable role player his whole career, so for him to average 20 points per game in one entire season wasa huge outlier during his career. The fact that Mike James had his only above 12 PPG season when he was 30 speaks volumes about how unexpected this season was for James.
3. Pervis Ellison (1991-92) Washington Bullets, 20.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 6.9 WS
Career Averages: 9.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 2.0 WS
"Never Nervous" Pervis is famed for being the #1 overall pick bust for the Sacramento Kings, and this 1991-1992 season is not a reason why. Ellison won the Most Improved Player Award in this year, and for some reason he never seemed to regain his form. Seemed like he got a little nervous during his other years.
2. Chris Gatling (1996-97) Dallas Mavericks/ LA Clippers 19.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 71.7 FT%, 3.9 WS
Career Averages: 10.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 66.0 FT% , 2.9 WS
Gatling was a journeyman role player during the 90s who usually filled his role well. In the 96-97 season not only was it a surprise that Gatling played so well, Gatling also got his first and only all-star selection. Starting off with the lowly Mavericks at the time certainly helped his averages and after this season, Gatling became his old role player self again.
1. Dana Barros (1994-95) Philadelphia 76ers, 20.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 46.4 3PFG%, 12.7 WS
Career Averages: 10.5 PPG, 3.3 APG, 41.1 3PFG%, 3.5 WS
Dana Barros was a 3 point shot knockdown killer, the guy was amazing with his three point stroke. His stroke helped him out even more in the 94-95 season. Not only did he win the Most Improved Player Award, he also garnered his first and only all-star selection like our friend Mr. Gatling above in that year. After this season, however, much like all of our players listed, he came back down to Earth and shot a 41.1 3PFG% instead of the ridiculous 46.4% he averaged in 94-95.
