Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas didn’t have a vote.
If he did, however, his choice for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award would have been Bulls guard Coby White.
‘‘He’s made huge strides,’’ Karnisovas said Saturday of White. ‘‘For me, he’s Most Improved Player this year.’’
The voters said differently. Before the playoff games Tuesday, the NBA announced 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey had won the award, beating out White and Rockets big man Alperen Sengun.
While White’s numbers took a bigger jump from last season to this season, where Maxey pulled away was in the national spotlight. Not only did Maxey become an Eastern Conference All-Star, but he kept the 76ers afloat for a playoff spot while 2023 league MVP Joel Embiid was sidelined with injuries.
Maxey went from averaging 20.3 points last season to averaging 25.9 this season and also improved his assists from 3.5 to 6.2.
White averaged a career-low 9.7 points last season, but that jumped dramatically as his role greatly increased. He finished this season averaging 19.1 points, third behind forward DeMar DeRozan (24) and guard Zach LaVine (19.5 in 25 games) on the Bulls.
NOTE: According to the public relations staff, the Bulls made several changes to their coaching staff Tuesday.
Assistant Chris Fleming, one of the few holdovers from the Jim Boylen era, won’t return. Assistant Maurice Cheeks will move from his full-time bench role to another position in the organization. And assistants Josh Longstaff and John Bryant are expected to be promoted.
