- Get the latest betting odds on the top favorites for the NBA's Most Improved Player race.
- Jalen Williams is the betting favorite (+125) to win Most Improved Player.
The NBA’s Most Improved Player has become an interesting race in recent seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey won the award in 2023-24 after entering the year with +1200 odds. There was an argument that he might have already been too good to win MIP, but his selection followed a familiar formula of recent winners: a good player establishes himself as an All-Star.
Maxey was the fifth consecutive MIP to earn his first All-Star selection in the same season he won the award. Seven of the past eight winners have been first-time All-Stars, with the lone exception being Pascal Siakam, who earned an All-Star nod the year after he won MIP.
With that in mind, here is a look at who might win this year’s Most Improved Player award based on the latest NBA odds:
Odds to Win NBA Most Improved Player, 2024-25
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Williams | Thunder | +125 |
| Tyler Herro | Heat | +400 |
| Jalen Johnson | Hawks | +800 |
| Dyson Daniels | Hawks | +800 |
| RJ Barrett | Raptors | +1400 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | +1800 |
| Norman Powell | Clippers | +2200 |
| Cade Cunningham | Pistons | +3000 |
| Jalen Suggs | Magic | +3000 |
| LaMelo Ball | Hornets | +3500 |
NBA Most Improved Player Odds: Jalen Williams Returns to Favorite
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams has returned to being the betting favorite to win NBA’s Most Improved Player award, giving him an implied probability of 44.44% based on his current price. This comes after I bet him at +2000 in the preseason.
Williams’ recent rise to the top of the market was due to an injury to Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, who was starting to separate himself as the favorite. He was a +150 favorite before being sidelined with a a torn oblique injury in early December.
Williams has a strong case for a top-ranked Thunder team. He could earn his first All-Star selection this year, taking his game to another level on both ends of the floor.
That said, the race is far from over, and the MIP market has already seen plenty of volatility this season.
Victor Wembanyama, the preseason favorite, has dropped to a 50/1 long shot. Players like Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green, Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, and Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson all held the top spot in this market before Wagner and Williams.
Williams remains my pick to win MIP since the preseason, but I’ll continue monitoring this dynamic market for additional value opportunities to round out my portfolio. Cade Cunningham (+3000) and Alperen Sengun (+12500) are my favorite current long shots as potential first-time All-Stars.
Prediction: Jalen Williams (+125)
NBA Most Improved Player Best Bets for 2024-25
- Jonathan Kuminga +1600 (0.25 units)
- Jalen Williams +2000 (0.25 units)
- Cade Cunningham +4000 (0.1 units)
I’ll update this page with my best bets in the Most Improved Player market throughout the season.
NBA Most Improved Player Betting Splits
Here are the latest betting insights for the Most Improved Player of the Year market at the online sportsbook:
- Most tickets: Franz Wagner 8.9%
- Highest handle: Franz Wagner 9.7%
- Odds leader: Jalen Williams
2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player Voting
| Rank | Name | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI | 319 | 51 |
| 2 | Coby White | CHI | 305 | 32 |
| 3 | Alperen Sengun | HOU | 92 | 6 |
| 4 | Jalen Williams | OKC | 79 | 5 |
| 5 | Jalen Brunson | NYK | 25 | 3 |
| 6 | Deni Avdija | WAS | 24 | 1 |
| 7 | Cam Thomas | BRK | 16 | 0 |
| 8 | Jalen Suggs | ORL | 11 | 0 |
| 9 | Tyrese Haliburton | IND | 5 | 1 |
| 10 | Grayson Allen | PHO | 4 | 0 |
List of Most Improved Player Winners
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Tyrese Maxey | PHI |
| 2022-23 | Lauri Markkanen | UTAH |
| 2021-22 | Ja Morant | MEM |
| 2020-21 | Julius Randle | NYK |
| 2019-20 | Brandon Ingram | NOP |
| 2018-19 | Pascal Siakam | TOR |
| 2017-18 | Victor Oladipo | IND |
| 2016-17 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL |
| 2015-16 | C.J. McCollum | POR |
| 2014-15 | Jimmy Butler | CHI |
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