NBA Most Improved Player Odds: MIP Betting Favorites (2025)

In addition to being time for the NBA playoffs, it is also time for individual awards to be handed out. We have already seen the Sixth Man of the Year award given out, with MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and others to be named. Who will be named the most improved player in the NBA this season? Let’s look at the odds.

Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

In his third season after being taken eighth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2022 NBA Draft, Daniels took a massive step forward. He went from 5.8 points per game with the Pelicans last season to 14.1 points per game in 2024-25.

Daniels improved in rebounds (3.9 to 5.9), assists (2.7 to 4.4), and steals (1.4 to 3.0), getting better in every facet of the game. Though he still has work to do to achieve the status expected of the eighth pick, Daniels has come to life in his new home in Atlanta.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

The 2021 first overall pick may have already had his coming-out party and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2022. Having said that, he took a significant leap forward in his fourth season, making the NBA All-Star team in the process.

Cunningham hit career highs in points (26.1), blocks (0.8), and assists (9.1) while coming very close in rebounds and steals. Cunningham looks like he has finally become the complete package for one of the league’s young, upstart teams in Detroit.

Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

The undrafted shooting guard continues to defy expectations. For the fourth season in a row, he has improved his points per game total, going from 15.9 last season to 20.2 this season. But that’s not where the improvement to Reaves’ game ends.

He set career highs in rebounds (4.5), assists (5.8), steals (1.1), and tied his high for blocks (0.3). Reaves has become more important to the Lakers and is in a great position to succeed now that Luka Doncic is in town to act as the #2 behind LeBron James.

Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

In his third season since being picked 21st overall, Bruan took a significant step forward in nearly every way. He more than doubled his previous career-high in points, going from 7.3 as a sophomore to 15.4 in his third season. And that’s just the start.

Braun set new marks in blocks (0.5), steals (1.1), assists (2.6), and rebounds (5.2), nearly all a significant step up from his previous highs. The 23-year-old has had a night-and-day transformation and will be an important piece for the Nuggets in the playoffs and beyond.

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

The third overall pick in 2021 has been very solid in his young career. He finished runner-up for the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year and third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2023. He took a slight step backward in 2023-24 but has hit new peaks in his fourth year.

Mobley came close to or matched career highs in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks while taking a step forward in points (16.2 to 18.5 points per game). Mobley has been one of the most vital players for a team that just won 64 games and finished first in the Eastern Conference.

Who Will Win the Award?

Though Cunningham has arguably taken the step forward needed to be a superstar in the league, it’s hard to ignore what Daniels has done in Atlanta. He went from an afterthought to a critical contributor for the Hawks this season.

Odds shifted dramatically after the season ended, with Daniels being the prohibitive favorite for the award. It wouldn’t shock anyone to see Cunningham win, but the award seems to be Daniels’ to lose when all is said and done.