Although most awards like MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, and Clutch Player leave room for the same player to become a finalist in consecutive seasons, one of the only ones that do not, next to Rookie of the Year, is the NBA’s Most Improved Player. It is unheard of for a star to make back-to-back massive leaps, as once the award is won, their stats improve, but gradually.
Moreover, the LA Clippers have not had many finalists on their roster finish the regular season in the race for this award. This is due to their veteran-heavy system, which contradicts the purpose of the recognition, which is typically given to players in their early to mid-20s.