Last night, Julius Randle won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award for 2021. He went from being just another underwhelming high draft pick to the heart and soul of a revitalized New York Knicks team. No one saw this coming, except maybe for Julius Randle. Congrats to him and to everyone who helped him find his way here.

Elsewhere…

• Congrats also go to Old Man Phil Mickelson, whose victory at the PGA Championship makes him the oldest winner of a major golf tourney.
• Baseball continues to have pretty much no offense at all, even as we’ve seen six (or is it seven) no hitters already.
• The NHL playoffs have been alternately really competitive and anything but, with two sweeps and one near-sweep balanced by several close series.
• The NBA playoffs are just starting. (Remember to visit the NBA playoffs thread!)

As ever, all sports subjects are welcome.