NBA Most Improved Player Odds & Favorites in 2026

bet365 News Team Updated: Apr 06 2026 20:40

The Most Improved Player (MIP) award recognizes players who have had improved their statistics the most from year-to-year.

Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Dyson Daniels won the award in 2024-25 after he averaged the most steals per game (3.01) since Alvin Robertson (3.04) in 1990-91.

On a new team after being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans for Dejounte Murray, Daniels improved his point total from 5.8 per game in 2023-24 to 14.1 per game in 2024-25.

His rebounds and assists numbers also jumped - he averaged 3.9 rebounds in 2023/24 and 4.9 in 2024/25, while his assists per game number increased from 2.7 to 4.4.

Odds to win NBA Most Improved Player Award

Player	Team	Current Odds
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	ATL Hawks	-200
Jalen Duren	DET Pistons	+175
Deni Avdija	POR Trail Blazers	+1800
Jalen Johnson	ATL Hawks	+6500
Ryan Rollins	MIL Bucks	+10000

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the betting favorite to win the NBA's Most Improved Player award in the 2025-26 season.

NAW is having the best season of his career by far, and is scoring over 10 points per game for the first time since 2022. He is averaging 20.6 points for the Atlanta Hawks who have been one of the best teams in the NBA down the stretch of the season.

The Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren is the second favorite to win the award, and has elevated himself above fellow first-time All-Stars Jalen Johnson, and Deni Avdija in the MIP betting odds.

Duren has increased his points per game by nearly seven points on the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Jalen Johnson has improved significantly on the offensive end in the absence of the former Hawk, Trae Young, who was traded to the Washington Wizards before the trade deadline this season.

While Johnson has increased his scoring by nearly four points, Avdija has averaged over seven points more than he did in 2024-25, and will likely lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the postseason for the first time since 2020-21.

Ryan Rollins has also been a revelation for the Milwaukee Bucks who were in desperate need of a ball handler and scorer beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Rollins was not on many teams radar until he exploded onto the season this year. Rollins is averaging over 16 points per game after averaging a career high 6.2 points last season.

Keyonte George, Anthony Black, Collin Gillespie, Neemias Queta, and Jaylon Tyson are the other players who could make a real case for the MIP award if they finish the season strong.

Past NBA Most Improved Player Winners

Year	Winner	Team
2025	Dyson Daniels	Atlanta Hawks
2024	Tyrese Maxey	Philadelphia 76ers
2023	Lauri Markkanen	Utah Jazz
2022	Ja Morant	Memphis Grizzlies
2021	Julius Randle	New York Knicks
2020	Brandon Ingram	New Orleans Pelicans
2019	Pascal Siakam	Toronto Raptors
2018	Victor Oladipo	Indiana Pacers
2017	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks
2016	CJ McCollum	Portland Trail Blazers
2015	Jimmy Butler	Chicago Bulls
2014	Goran Dragic	Phoenix Suns
2013	Paul George	Indiana Pacers
2012	Ryan Anderson	Orlando Magic
2011	Kevin Love	Minnesota Timberwolves
2010	Aaron Brooks	Houston Rockets
2009	Danny Granger	Indiana Pacers
2008	Hedo Turkoglu	Orlando Magic
2007	Monta Ellis	Golden State Warriors
2006	Boris Diaw	Phoenix Suns
2005	Bobby Simmons	Los Angeles Clippers
2004	Zach Randolph	Portland Trail Blazers
2003	Gilbert Arenas	Golden State Warriors
2002	Jermaine O'Neal	Indiana Pacers
2001	Tracy McGrady	Orlando Magic
2000	Jalen Rose	Indiana Pacers
1999	Darrell Armstrong	Orlando Magic
1998	Alan Henderson	Atlanta Hawks
1997	Isaac Austin	Miami Heat
1996	Gheorge Muresan	Washington Bullets
1995	Dana Barros	Philadelphia 76ers
1994	Don MacLean	Washington Bullets
1993	Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf	Denver Nuggets
1992	Pervis Ellison	Washington Bullets
1991	Scott Skiles	Orlando Magic
1990	Rony Seikaly	Miami Heat
1989	Kevin Johnson	Phoenix Suns
1988	Kevin Duckworth	Portland Trail Blazers
1987	Dale Ellis	Seattle SuperSonics
1986	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs

NBA Most Improved Player announcement

Like most NBA Awards, the Most Improved Player Award is announced after the regular season ends and during the playoffs. The 2024 award winner, Tyrese Maxey, was announced on April 23, 2024. In 2025, Dyson Daniels was announced as the winner on April 30.

NBA Most Improved Player voting

The NBA Most Improved Player Award is voted on by a committee of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Voters have a first-place vote worth five points, a second-place vote worth three points, and a third-place vote worth one point. The player with the most points wins the award.

NBA Most Improved Player trophy

The George Mikan Trophy, awarded to the Most Improved Player, was established before the 2022/23 season. Mikan was a legendary center for the Minneapolis Lakers - before they moved to Los Angeles - and his name lives on through the Mikan Drill, which players use to improve their game.