One of the most intriguing awards to track throughout the NBA season is Most Improved Player. We generally come into the year with a good idea of who the league’s best players are, but there’s always one who exceeds expectations and earns his first All-Star nod.
Tyrese Maxey achieved that feat in 2023-24, posting career-high marks in points (25.9), rebounds (3.7), and assists (6.2) per game. The 23-year-old was also a reliable part of the rotation for the 76ers, appearing in 70 out of 82 contests.
This year’s field is filled to the brim with top-tier talent, so let’s take a look at the 2024-25 NBA MIP odds and make a few predictions.
All NBA odds are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 13, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
NBA Most Improved Player Odds
- Jalen Johnson (+550)
- Jalen Williams (+750)
- LaMelo Ball (+1200)
- RJ Barrett (+1200)
- Cade Cunningham (+1300)
- Gradey Dick (+1400)
- Norman Powell (+1400)
- Ivica Zubac (+1500)
- Dyson Daniels (+1500)
All other NBA Most Improved Player candidates have (+2000) odds or longer.
Who Will Win NBA MIP?
Jalen Johnson (+550)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Before the season began, I recommended betting on Jalen Johnson as a (+2500) longshot to win Most Improved Player. Less than one month into the year, he’s become the odds-on favorite at (+550).
Opportunity is generally one of the biggest factors in determining how well a player fares in this race, and Johnson has plenty of it. He’s in line to at least be Atlanta’s No. 2 option throughout the season, and whenever Trae Young is sidelined, the offense runs through him.
Johnson has developed a reputation as a strong interior scorer and elite rebounder, but he’s proving to be much more than that. The 22-year-old has worked on his outside shot this year, attempting 4.8 threes per game, and he’s averaging a career-high 5.3 assists.
Johnson’s presence is felt on the defensive end, too, where he’s averaging 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Assuming he stays healthy and continues to find his rhythm, he could run away with this award. Back Johnson to win Most Improved Player with your NBA bet of the day.
NBA Most Improved Player Favorites
Jalen Williams (+750)
DraftKings Sportsbook
J-Dub is one of my favorite players, so I’m happy to see him have the second-shortest odds to win NBA MIP. The third-year swingman does anything and everything for the first-place Thunder, making a tangible impact on both ends of the floor.
In terms of counting stats, though, Williams hasn’t made as big a leap as other contenders for this award. He’s averaging career-high marks in pints (19.9), rebounds (6.4), assists (5.0), steals (1.9), and blocks (0.8), but they’re all marginal increases from where he was last year.
The absence of Chet Holmgren could help boost his averages over the next few months, and I don’t doubt that Williams could become a first-time All-Star in 2025 if Oklahoma City remains near the top of the Western Conference standings. Even still, there are better bets available at (+750).
LaMelo Ball (+1200)
DraftKings Sportsbook
Ball has been putting on a show in Charlotte this season. Finally healthy, the fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 29.9 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in just under 34 minutes per game.
The 23-year-old has always been a volume scorer, but he’s taken it up a notch this year, attempting a league-leading 13.1 three-point attempts per game. He’s been sinking those pretty reliably, too, registering a 37.5% clip.
The case against Ball is that he’s already been an All-Star before (2021-22), and he’s essentially traded his playmaking to put up more shots. Ball has averaged at least 7.6 assists over the last three seasons, but he’s down to 6.3 per game in 2024-25. He’s also attempting a career-high 23.4 field goals per game.
NBA Most Improved Player Contenders
RJ Barrett (+1200)
DraftKings Sportsbook
I’ll be honest — I’m not seeing any reason why Barrett should be tied for the third-best odds to win Most Improved Player. I’m happy to include him in the conversation, because he does look better this season, but he isn’t taking as large a leap as other players in this race.
Barrett’s biggest improvement this year is as a playmaker. The 24-year-old is logging a career-high 5.7 assists per game, and he’s already had two outings with double-digit assists less than a month into the campaign. It’s coming at a cost, though — he’s also committing a career-high 3.6 turnovers per game.
Barrett is putting up his best numbers as a scorer, but his efficiency has left a lot to be desired. His 21.3 points per game are nice, but his .415/.316/.696 shooting splits are far from impressive. The opportunity is there for him to continue improving, but I just can’t make the case to bet on him right now.
Cade Cunningham (+1300)
DraftKings Sportsbook
The Pistons look like a vastly different team this season, and Cunningham is a big reason why. The standout guard is notching career-high marks virtually across the board, including points (22.9), rebounds (7.3), and assists (8.3), and he’s already picked up three triple-doubles in his first 12 games.
The 23-year-old’s struggles with ball security have continued, though, as Cunningham is committing nearly five turnovers per game. I’d love to see him iron out this part of his game as the season continues, because currently, Detroit ranks 28th in turnovers per game.
Cunningham’s reputation has always been tied to his team’s success, and fortunately for him, the Pistons are winning games again. Following an 0-4 start, Detroit has gone 5-3 with wins over the 76ers, Nets, Lakers, Hawks, and Heat.
If Cunningham and Detroit can keep this up, he could establish himself as a leader in this race. I’m not getting in just yet, but I’m eager to check back in around mid-December.
NBA Most Improved Player Sleepers
Gradey Dick (+1400)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
I mentioned opportunity as a key factor in this race, and by all means, Dick is seizing it. The 20-year-old guard has made the most of his increased role to begin the year, averaging an eye-popping 20.1 points to go along with 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Dick has supplied little outside of the scoring column, but the second-year Kansas product has seriously stepped up as a shooter. He’s had more games with 30-plus points (three) than he has under 10 (two), and he’s sinking an efficient 37.3% of his 6.9 three-point attempts per game.
Toronto is 2-10 and has already dealt with a handful of injuries, so it doesn’t seem like Dick’s role will decrease anytime soon. Besides, if he continues playing like this, it’ll be hard for the coaching staff to cut into his minutes.
I’m a believer. Put me down for a half-unit wager at (+1400).
Bilal Coulibaly (+2500)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
Wizards fans don’t have much to get excited about these days, but Bilal Coulibaly is certainly one of them. The 20-year-old forward has made huge strides in his second season, averaging career-high marks in points (16.3), rebounds (5.3), assists (2.7), and steals (1.1) despite playing just seven more minutes per game.
Perhaps most importantly, Coulibaly has shown that he has what it takes to elevate his game to the next level. A relatively poor shooter as a rookie, he’s posted encouraging .573/.375/.806 shooting splits through his first nine games.
Washington isn’t competing for anything but a top-four pick in 2024-25, so it’s in the franchise’s best interest to let Coulibaly continue exploring and expanding his game.
