Hornets Make Their Case For Devonte' Graham's Most Improved Player Campaign

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The Charlotte Hornets season might have come to an abrupt end, but that doesn't take away the fact that second-year point guard Devonte' Graham had a huge breakout year, increasing his scoring average from 4.7 to 18.2 points per game, a league-high. 

Drafted in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Graham spent a majority of his rookie season in the G-League with the Hornets' Greensboro Swarm affiliate. 

"You look at the numbers in points per game, but more than that he was able to be a playmaker as well," head coach James Borrego said on Wilson & Parcell. "That's tough in today's league and he did both." 

BELI4VE THE BUZZ! -- #SmoreGraham pic.twitter.com/k4eIoD8jzG

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 28, 2020

Graham's role increased this year with star point guard Kemba Walker departing and he quickly became the team's starting guard alongside Terry Rozier. 

"From what he was in the 2018-19 season as an unheralded second-round pick to what he is now, to me, that's the definition of most improved," Hornets play-by-play voice Eric Collins told The Mac Attack. 

In addition to his scoring increase, Graham averaged 7.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. 

He was named a participant in the NBA's 3-point competition during All-Star weekend in February and the Rising Stars Challenge.

"He's deserving," Borrego said. "He's a heck of a player. He is the Most Improved Player in the NBA." 

"Tae world I'm just living in it -- --" - @MilesBridges #SmoreGraham | @Devonte4Graham pic.twitter.com/nOE5iKpiJ8

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 25, 2020

Borrego added that nobody, not even the team expected Graham to become this type of player.

"He came out nowhere," Borrego said. "He literally came out of nowhere...People projected him as a G-League player or third point guard and he exceeded all of that. To me, the award is MOST improved and I think that is Devonte'.