2. Pascal Siakam is named the NBA's Most Improved Player in the 2018-19 season
From being a key part of the Raptors' famed "bench mob" to becoming a full-fledged starter, Siakam showed impressive leaps in his game during the 2018-19 NBA season. Pascal became a household name known around the NBA for his defensive tenacity and ability to score at all three levels, as he had several breakout performances that year.
The Raptors sat atop the championship contender ladder led by their superstar Leonard and wily veteran Lowry, but Siakam's complimentary play as the team's third-string star helped mightily in their championship aspirations. He was rewarded as such with the MIP award at the end of the year.
Pascal Siakam's improvements in 2018-19 saw him secure the NBA's Most Improved Player award
Siakam received the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for November 5 to 11, averaging a team-high 20 points, 4.3 rebounds, and shooting well over 72% from the field to go with an incredible 98% shooting from the free-throw line.
Siakam also had his then career-high performance of 44 points, along with a career-best four three-pointers made in a win against the Washington Wizards on February 13, 2019. Spicy P ended his 2018-19 campaign with averages of 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, which saw him edge out Brooklyn's D'Angelo Russell to win the NBA's Most Improved Player award that year.