The NBA’s Most Improved Player Award sounds attainable for many, but there’s more to it. It’s not about comeback stories; it’s about players having their best season yet. The award highlights those showing major development in a single year.
To be eligible, players must appear in at least 65 games during the 2024-25 season, ensuring the honor goes to someone who’s been consistent, not just a one-hit wonder. It’s about making a consistent impact.
So who has the best chance to take home the hardware this season?
It helps if we start by breaking down key trends from the past 20 seasons. For starters, scoring carries significant weight, with 24 of the last 25 MIP winners increasing by at least 5.0 PPG. Also, 10 of the past 11 winners averaged 20.0 PPG during their MIP season.
It’s also worth noting that five consecutive winners, and seven of the last eight, made the All-Star team the same year they won MIP. Being on a team projected to make the playoffs helps, as 13 of the last 20 winners came from such teams. Diving deeper, 11 of the 20 MIP winners played…
