Jalen Williams is the favorite to win NBA Most Improved Player
Last year’s Most Improved Player Award winner was Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers
Tyler Herro occupies the top contender spot for Most Improved Player
The Most Improved Player of the Year race hasn’t seen much movement over the past week. With the top contenders locked in, it’ll be a weekly process to see if they can overcome one another. At WSN, we’re locked in on the race for Most Improved Player, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!
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Jalen Williams sits atop the Most Improved Player of the Year despite a poor showing in the Emirates NBA Cup Final. Tyler Herro is the top contender for the award, staying focused while trade rumors swirl around his team. Hawks duo Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels continue to impress, while Evan Mobley is a dark horse to take home the award.
Jalen Williams has emerged as a leading candidate for the 2025 NBA Most Improved Player award, showcasing impressive growth in his third season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams has been central to the Thunder's rise to the top of the Western Conference, posting career highs in almost every category. Looking more like a second star than a sidekick in the Thunder offense, Williams has established himself as one of the NBA's top young prospects.
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Who is the Favorite to Win NBA Most Improved Player?
Jalen Williams - Oklahoma City Thunder (+280) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
FGM / FG%
3PM / 3P%
2024-25
OKC
23
25
32.1
21.7
6.1
5.0
2.0
0.8
8.5/.500
2.0/.385
Jalen Williams impressed over the past week despite falling short in the Emirates NBA Cup. He averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 39.0% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range. Williams struggled in the Emirates NBA Cup Final, only contributing 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the loss.
Who are the Contenders to Win NBA Most Improved Player?
Tyler Herro - Miami Heat (+380) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
FGM / FG%
3PM / 3P%
2024-25
MIA
25
24
34.9
24.1
5.3
4.8
0.8
0.1
8.4/.476
4.2/.413
The Miami Heat have failed to make a notable impact in the Eastern Conference this season, still hovering over the .500 mark. Herro has given his all this season, though, averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 threes per game over the last week. He hasn’t been shy as of late, hitting eight of 24 three-point attempts in his previous two games in an attempt to push his Heat up the East standings.
Jalen Johnson continues to impress for the Atlanta Hawks this season. He is an all-around contributor on both ends of the court. In two games last week, both in the NBA Cup, Johnson averaged 18.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists,1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. While he’s been excellent this season, his inexperience showed as he struggled in Atlanta’s NBA Cup elimination games.
Dyson Daniels was considered just a throw-in when he joined the Hawks from the Pelicans this season, but he’s proven to be one of the most valuable pieces of that trade. Over his last two games, Daniels averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 0.5 steals – falling out of the NBA Cup in the Semi-Final against the Bucks. Daniels fell short of his defensive standards over the past week, but on the season as a whole, he’s been so good on both ends that he’s a contender for Most Improved Player.
Who is the Dark Horse to Win 2025 Most Improved Player of the Year?
Evan Mobley - Cleveland Cavaliers (+1600) at FanDuel
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
FGM / FG%
3PM / 3P%
2024-25
CLE
23
25
30.4
18.4
8.9
2.6
1.1
1.5
7.0/.564
0.9/.411
Evan Mobley has been continually praised for his defensive quality, but his growth on offense has been central to the Cavaliers’ success this season. Mobley played just one game last week and put up 21 points, five rebounds, and one three in 23 minutes of a 29-point blowout against the Nets. The Cavaliers are dominating the NBA this season, and Mobley must be highlighted as he is beginning to look like an NBA All-Star.
Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers won the 2024 Most Improved Player Award. Despite star man Joel Embiid missing significant time for the Sixers, Maxey stepped up to keep the Sixers in playoff contention while also earning his first All-Star appearance. It was the second time a member of the Philadelphia 76ers won the award.
Through his 2023-24 regular season campaign, Maxey proved himself to be one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, averaging 25.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.0 threes per game on 45.0% efficiency and 37.3% from three-point range. Despite Maxey’s efforts, the Sixers’ injury issues contributed to their seventh-place finish and First Round playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks.
Maxey was the favorite to win Most Improved Player throughout the NBA season, accumulating 51 first-place votes, 18 second-place votes, and ten third-place votes at the end of the season. His closest challenger was Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, who accumulated 305 total points to Maxey’s 319.
When Will the NBA's Most Improved Player Be Announced?
The winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player Award is expected to be announced following the conclusion of the NBA regular season and the NBA Play-In tournament. Last year's Most Improved Player Award was presented by the winner's team while also being broadcast during an episode of Inside the NBA.
Does the NBA’s Most Improved Player Receive a Prize?
The NBA’s Most Improved Player winner does not receive a prize per se. In commemorating their accomplishment, the award winner is written into NBA history as one of its most notable players. The Most Improved Player Award signals a player's growth and who to expect more from as their career progresses. They may receive specific bonuses as stipulated through negotiations in their NBA contract.
Most Improved Player FAQ
Have Any Most Improved Player Winners Become All-Stars?
There have been 20 Most Improved Player winners who have become NBA All-Stars.
Alvin Robertson, Dana Barros, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Danny Granger, Kevin Love, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Ja Morant won the award and became All-Star in the same season.
Dale Ellis, Kevin Duckworth, Kevin Johnson, Gilbert Arenas, Zach Randolph, Goran Dragic, and Pascal Siakam became All-Stars in subsequent seasons after winning the award.
Boris Diaw, Kevin Love, Pascal Siakam, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only winners who became NBA Champions. And Tracy McGrady is the only Most Improved Player winner to be named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame!
Does Fan Vote Determine the NBA’s Most Valuable Player?
The NBA Most Improved Player Award is determined by a panel of sportswriters across the United States and Canada. Each panel member is allowed a first-, second-, and third-place vote worth 5, 3, and 1 point(s), respectively. The player with the highest point total wins the award.
Has an International Player Ever Won Most Improved Player?
Six international players have been named the league's Most Improved Player. They are: Lauri Markkanen (2023) - Finland, Pascal Siakam (2019) - Cameroon, Giannis Antetokounmpo (2017) - Greece, Goran Dragic (2014) - Slovenia, Hedo Turkoglu (2008) - Turkey, Boris Diaw (2006) - France, and Gheroghe Muresan (1996) - Romania.
Who Won the First NBA Most Improved Player Award?
Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs was the first-ever Most Improved Player Award winner. In his second season, Robertson averaged 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 steals per game after playing 82 games. Robertson became the 1986 Defensive Player of the Year, a six-time All-Defensive Team member, a four-time All-Star, and a three-time steals champion.
Which NBA Player Position Has the Best Chance of Winning Most Improved Player?
Most Improved Player of the Year Award winners have been distributed relatively evenly between guards and forwards, but forwards have the slight edge all-time. Forwards have won Most Improved Player of the Year 19 times, compared to guards, who have won 14 times, and centers, who have won just five times.
Which NBA Franchises Have Produced the Most NBA Most Improved Player Winners?
The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic have won the Most Improved Player of the Year award more than any other team in NBA history. With five winners in franchise history, the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic have provided an excellent opportunity for players to flourish. The players that have won Most Improved Player for the Indiana Pacers were: Victor Oladipo (2018), Paul George (2013), Danny Granger (2009), Jermaine O'Neal (2002), and Jalen Rose (2000). The players that have won Most Improved Player for the Orlando Magic were: Ryan Anderson (2012), Hedo Turkoglu (2008), Tracy McGrady (2001), Darrell Armstrong (1999), and Scott Skiles (1991).
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Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
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