The NBA’s Most Improved Player Award doesn’t have the same prestige as the MVP or an All-NBA first team selection, but still is a chance for players with unexpected growth to be recognized for their improvement. The reward does favor scoring, as nine of the last 10 winners averaged 20 points per game or better. Earlier in the season, Norman Powell fit the mold of a scorer who took the leap, ratcheting his per game averages from 13.9 ppg to 22.2 ppg. But with injuries precluding him from being eligible for end-of-season rewards, others have taken his spot. The race is now down to two likely candidates.
Dyson Daniels (-270) doesn’t fit the mold of past MIP winners—averaging “just” 14.2 ppg. His scoring is a marked improvement from last season though, as he averaged a meager 5.8 ppg on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Where Daniels case has really taken off is in the peripheral stats—and especially with steals. Daniels is having a historic season stealing the ball. As of today, April 8, Daniels has posted a top 30 season in total steals with 222. If you go by per game averages he’s even more impressive. His 3.04 steals per game average qualifies him in the top-10 in NBA/ABA history.
This is coming off a sophomore season in New Orleans where he started just 16 games en route to a 1.4 steals per game average—he’s more than doubled his per game productivity in that department!
Toss in his improvements across the board in rebounding—3.9 per game last season to 5.8—assisting—2.7 to 4.3—and shooting efficiency—44.7% from the field to 49.4% this season—and its clear to see why voters have positioned him as the favorite. The Hawks have recognized his value too, as Daniels has started all 73 games he has played this season.
Cade Cunningham (+210) fits the “traditional” model of what voters like to see in most improved player. Usually, it’s the recognition of a young star’s surge into the player they were forecast to be.
Consider past winners. Tyrese Maxey—pick 21 of the 2020 draft—won the award last year by upping his scoring from 20.3 to 25.9 points per game.
2019 second overall pick Ja Morant won in 2023 in his third year—again seeing a bump in his scoring from 19.1 to 27.4 points per game.
And 2013 second overall pick Victor Oladipo won in 2018, his fifth year, upon moving to the Indiana Pacers and jumping from 15.9 to 23.1 points per game.
This tendency toward highly selected or already proven players has been maligned recently. Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick criticized the award for “misinterpreting” its intention.
“I hate that award,” said Redick in a practice interview. “They’ve failed to define it. And I think the spirit of it has been taken out of whack. Just call it the ‘high draft pick and he’s on a max contract and now he’s an All-Star.’”
But while Redick disagrees with the criteria, the betting market still figures Cunningham a strong contender. The first overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft, Cunningham has increased his production on all fronts (22.7 points per game to 25.9, 4.3 rebounds to 6.1, and 7.5 assists to 9.1), and more importantly, the Detroit Pistons have secured a playoff spot after an abysmal 2024 campaign which saw them match the longest losing streak in NBA history.
That much cannot be ignored. But it will be interesting to see whether voters are taking note of the criticism Redick has laid out.
Far behind those two, a swathe of players have carved out productive seasons. Although they will not win the award, their jump deserves recognition.
Austin Reaves (+7500) is having a career year even with the addition of perennial All-NBA talent Luka Doncic. Where some players might see a decline in production after the acquisition of such a ball-dominant player, Reaves has thrived.
Since the Lakers acquired Doncic, Reaves has averaged 22.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. His last month has been especially impressive, splitting 26.1/5.1/5.5 on 52.5% from the field and 42.1% from three since March 13.
Christian Braun (+10,000) has firmly taken over the starting guard spot for the Denver Nuggets since the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The third year man has doubled his scoring output (7.3 to 15.4 points per game) and has massively improved his efficiency in working as an off-ball cutter for MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.
His 57.8% field goal percentage is the best by a guard in the entire league. This is after a 2024 season where he finished shooting 46.0% from the field. He has also gained a reputation as an iron man, missing just 3 games this year and playing all 82 the year prior.
Evan Mobley (+10,000) is more likely to claim this year’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, but his improvements elsewhere have also landed him a spot on the most improved list.
After a decrease in scoring volume from his second to third year (16.2 to 15.7 ppg), Mobley has brought his volume up to 18.5 points per game—a career high.
Mobley has also extended his range as an outside threat. His 3.2 3-point attempts per game is a career high, and has also shot an effective 37.0% from beyond the arc. Career highs in both 2-point (62.7%) and free throw percentage (72.7%) also drive up his value for the league leading Cleveland Cavaliers offense.
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