Indiana Pacers: Handing out team awards for the 2021-22 season

The most improved player was a guy that had to fight his way back into the rotation after having a terrific end to his first season the year before.

Oshae Brissett wins Most Improved Player

At the age of just 23 years old, Oshae Brissett played the most games of any rostered Pacers this season with a total of 67. He started in 25 games, most of which came after the trade deadline in Feb.

Oshae had more of a  down and up season, starting the year with a new head coach in Rick Carlisle, he had to re-earn his way into the rotation.

There were eight games where he didn’t see the court simply because Rick Carlisle deemed it so. The roster was different back at that point, so there was justification to a degree from Carlisle.

Oshae ended the season on a tear for the Indiana Pacers. In his last ten games, he averaged 17.1 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, and shot 44.9% from the field. 

Brissett’s athletic abilities really shined through this year to me. He was great in transition and was also quite active around the glass.

He didn’t get the chance to start more games earlier in the season, but Oshae showed great growth in his second year with the Pacers.

Domantas Sabonis wins Most Valuable Player

Domantas Sabonis was literally the most valuable player on the team this season because the Pacers used that to leverage a trade to acquire Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield.

The two-time all-star averaged a double-double in Indiana this season with 18.9 PPG and 12.9 RPG. 

Sabonis was the best player to dawn the blue and gold this season and losing him will hurt this team in the short term. It’s clear that the goal is to build a new young core and Sabonis helped bring those pieces to the Pacers.

Sabonis had six 30-point games with the Pacers this season, including one 42-point game against the Utah Jazz which is a career-high. The offense ran through Sabonis and his screening and passing ability will certainly be missed.

Fortunately for the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton is a passing machine that is young and set to be the new face of the franchise. Sabonis gave Indiana five great seasons and earned his way into all-star status.