2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player Award Odds and Predictions

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The 2024-25 NBA season is winding down, which means we’re all wondering about who will win the Most Improved Player of the Year award. I know, it’s more about the NBA Championship these days, but hey, it’s impossible to not come away impressed with some of the leaps being made in The Association.

Even better? When certain players improve their game so much and take it to such a level that it actually makes their respective team better, too. That’s the case of someone like Detroit Pistons superstar point guard Cade Cunningham, and he’s not alone.

But who will actually win this year’s award? I’ll dig through the latest 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year odds to find out. You can roll with my NBA picks for this betting market, or keep reading for some analysis behind the best bets this year.

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Odds

Check out the latest NBA Most Improved Player of the Year odds, courtesy of the best sports betting sites:

There is quite a difference between the opening NBA odds for this betting market, and where we stand now. The most obvious leaps are Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley, but that’s only because a bunch of the other candidates didn’t even have pricing.

Of that duo, Cunningham is the one with a realistic shot at winning the award. It’s fair to argue that everyone listed has a chance, but it’s undeniably down to Cade or Dyson Daniels at this point.

Daniels has morphed into the overwhelming favorite, however, as players with a price like his -650 moneyline don’t tend to lose.

That said, the best handicappers in the world will tell you the same thing; don’t place a bet until you consider all

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Contenders

Let’s break down each man left competing for the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award:

Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

There is a really good reason for why Cade Cunningham owns the second best NBA Most Improved Player odds this year. Not only did he take a huge statistical leap in his fourth season with the Detroit Pistons (25.7 points and 9.1 assists per game), but he also took on a bigger leadership role.

There was a while there where many speculated whether or not the former Oklahoma State product was a bust. Injuries and inconsistency had doubt creeping in, but Cunningham managed to put it all together this year, doing enough to keep the Pistons out of the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Naturally, that led to a locked up playoff spot and a winning record on the season. There was no way they were winning the Central Division given the insane start by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but Detroit has been a pesky unit all season, doing enough offensively and grinding on the other end with the league’s 9th most efficient defense.

Across the board, Detroit got better this year, and it had everything to do with the ascension of their star player. The only roadblock between him and the 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player award? His jump wasn’t exactly meteoric. Detroit’s team success was evident, but Cade had already begun flashing his star quality the year prior.

Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)

Dyson Daniels admittedly is not a guy I thought would be in the running to win the 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player award, but here we are. At this point, he is the runaway betting favorite with a -650 moneyline, so wagering against him is almost certainly fruitless.

That is where the only value lies for this market, but before you bet on someone else to win Most Improved Player, first consider that he is about as deserving as one can be. A year ago Daniels was putting up just 5.8 points per game and barely clearing 22 minutes per contest.

Fast forward to his breakout campaign, and Daniels is way too good on defense to keep off the floor. Daniels is averaging a robust 3.0 steals per game and locking down the opposing team’s best perimeter player, but he’s also made massive strides on offense.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Daniels is shooting a respectable 34.6% from long range and chipping in 14.3 points per game. He’s your classic 3-and-D guy, which usually doesn’t get a lot of attention, but the huge spike in production and his true value to his Atlanta Hawks is undeniable.

Atlanta is somehow still in contention for the seemingly always winnable Southeast Division, and it has everything to do with Daniels’ improved play.

Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)

Luka Doncic and the trade heard around the world has obviously overshadowed one of the best blow-up stories of this NBA season. In any other year, Austin Reaves would probably be a lock to win this award, as he’s ticked his points per game average up by almost five whole points (15.9 to 20.3) and he’s shooting almost 38% from deep.

Reaves has done a lot of heavy-lifting for the Los Angeles Lakers, and has been forced to adapt on the fly in many different ways. Earlier in the year it was settling into his “third star” role behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Once The Brow dealt with injuries (and eventually was traded), Reaves took on an even bigger workload and passed with flying colors.

Even after Luka came to town in arguably the most shocking NBA trade we’ve ever seen, Reaves has continued to deliver as a third offensive weapon in a Lakers team that is in play for the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.

L.A. is in the driver’s seat to secure first place in the Pacific Division, and it has a lot to do with their ability to lean on the forever overlooked and disrespected Reaves. He may not be confused with a legit superstar on the level of LeBron or Luka, but he’s undeniably shown everyone that he is an offensive threat.

All things considered, his huge statistical leap and impossible-to-deny real life game makes him a very intriguing value bet at +8000.

Christian Braun (Denver Nuggets)

It’s sometimes tough to get noticed when you’re playing on the same team as Nikola Jokic, but even despite that fact, it was easy to see Christian Braun take his game to a whole new level this season.

This has been a weird year. The Denver Nuggets remain an offensive juggernaut and are in position to make a title run, and yet they just canned head coach Michael Malone. Malone deserves some credit for unleashing Braun’s upside, as he’s constantly been put in positions to succeed, and he’s responded by producing accordingly.

It’s true that Braun isn’t a real Most Improved Player threat, as there are bigger stars with more compelling odds. That said, he made arguably the largest leap of anyone, going from a 20-minute a night and 7.3 points per game afterthought to a legit producer (15.4 points per game) that has been dead on (39.8%) from long range.

Braun even chips in 1.1 steals per game, and is a noticeable contributor and always active within Denver’s offense. Unfortunately, he and Dyson Daniels profile similarly and Daniels has the edge as the clearly superior defender.

The Nuggers really never stood a chance behind OKC in the Northwest Division, but they’ve remained quite potent on offense and Braun’s ascension has played a key role in that success.

Evan Mobley  (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Playing for one of the best NBA teams in the league is never easy, as a team’s stacked roster can often have your production curbed. Or worse, even if you do produce, it can be seen as a product of the system, or that you’re simply benefiting from other star talent taking the defense’s focus away from you.

People can say what they want. The reality is Evan Mobley had a coming out party this year. The arguments against him at least being in contention to win this award are flimsy. Even if he isn’t Cleveland’s best player (and he very well may be), he’s at least definitely been a huge reason for the Cavs climbing the ladder and posting the second best record in the NBA.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have enjoyed high-level team success. They’ll finish with the second best record in The Association, and they had the Central Division wrapped up ages ago. Mobley’s spike in offensive production is a part of that, but his statistical leap wasn’t nearly as big as some of the other NBA Most Improved Player contenders.

I can see an argument for Mobley due to his efficiency and stellar numbers despite his loaded roster, while playing for the best team in the Eastern Conference isn’t nothing, either. But if this award is graded on sizable leaps – and it is – Mobley is one of the first options I am bypassing.

Tyler Herro (Miami Heat)

The Miami Heat have been a monster disappointment. You know it’s bad when Jimmy Butler wants out and you’re not winning a weak Southeast Division that presently has a team under .500 in first place.

As bleak as this year has gotten, Tyler Herro isn’t the reason for Miami’s struggles. Herro has been better than ever on offense, elevating his overall game and jumping by three points in his scoring average.

Herro is closing out the year with 23.8 points per game, which is a nice lift from last year’s 20.8. The extra usage and added defensive attention – not to mention the pressure of Butler’s departure – hasn’t hurt his efficiency, as he’s shooting a career-best 47% from the floor and hasn’t dipped much out on the perimeter, either.

There are knocks to be had here, of course. For one, Herro was already a star player on a good team. This will be his fourth consecutive season averaging over 20 points per game, after all. Secondly, Herro will never be confused with an elite defender. He’s evolved his game to be a legit asset when it comes to playmaking (5.5 assists per game), however.

Lastly, Herro is playing the best ball of his career, but Miami as a whole has regressed. Anytime a guy picks up more volume and sees his numbers rise, but his team struggles, it’s a bad sign. I don’t doubt the 25-year old Herro will keep getting better, but his resume isn’t one of an NBA Most Improved Player.

NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Predictions

Dyson Daniels is easily the most improved player in the NBA this year. If my breakdown of his evolution and impact didn’t sell it, his -650 Most Improved Player odds should.

He’s been one of the better on-ball defenders in the entire league, and he’s improved in virtually every possible way. Once a mere rotational body, Daniels has established himself as a rock solid starter at worst, and a rising star at best.

It all sounds good, but you’re not betting on Dyson Daniels at -650. You’re probably not betting on who will win the NBA Most Improved Player award at all, to be frank. However, if you do decide to, I think the only bet worth making is Austin Reaves.

He and Daniels are the two guys with the biggest jumps in production, but Reaves has seen the biggest spike in offensive output – and it’s contributed to the Lakers being pretty darn good.

Reaves may not actually win this award, but betting on him at +8000 feels a heck of a lot better than backing Daniels at -650.

Bet: Austin Reaves (+8000)

NBA Most Improved Player Winners

The following is a list of the most recent winners of the NBA Most Improved Player award: