NBA Most Improved Player Odds & Favorites for 2026

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2024-25 season.

In his third NBA campaign, Daniels averaged a career-best 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.01 steals per game. He improved his average marks by +8.3 points per game, +2 rebounds, +1.5 assists, and +1.6 steals compared to his averages with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2023-24.

Daniels became the second Hawks player to win MIP since the award was created in 1985-86.

Check out the updated NBA odds and predictions for the Most Improved Player market for the 2025-26 season:

Odds to Win NBA Most Improved Player 2026

Who Will Win the NBA Most Improved Player in 2026?

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija is the betting favorite to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award during the 2025-26 season. His +220 odds imply a 31.25% probability.

Avdija is the fifth different MIP favorite since the season got underway. He passed Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, who had been the favorite for a few weeks since mid-November when he climbed past Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey.

Giddey had been the favorite for a couple of weeks after passing his teammate Matas Buzelis. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson started the season as the front-runner for this trophy.

For context, here’s a look at the MIP odds for those five players at the start of the year:

• Amen Thompson +800
• Matas Buzelis +1400
• Deni Avdija +1600
• Josh Giddey +2000
• Jalen Duren +8000

Betting on the MIP market can be a lot of fun because long shots are more likely to win the award due to the unpredictability of the race every season.

Daniels was a +6600 long shot entering last season after being traded from the Pelicans to the Hawks in a deal that involved Dejounte Murray. The move provided a bigger opportunity for Daniels, who had started in 27 of his 120 games with the Pelicans through his first two seasons.

With Atlanta, Daniels started in all 76 of his regular-season games. He averaged 33.8 minutes with the Hawks, taking advantage of the increased role to boost his numbers.

Daniels became the fifth player to average at least 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a season, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson, and Alvin Robertson. Daniels finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year race, establishing himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

The one thing Daniels didn’t do was secure an All-Star selection. That snapped a streak of five straight MIP winners earning their first All-Star nod in the same season they won the award. Seven of the past nine winners have been first-time All-Stars.

Given last season’s data point, I don’t believe a player must be an All-Star to win MIP. For now, I’d like to target players who are embracing bigger roles this year.

On that note, Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has had a strong start to the season. He’s averaging 23.5 points and 6.8 assists per game as of this writing, which is up from last year’s averages of 16.3 points and 5.6 dimes.

George’s +2000 price tag (was +4000 a week ago) is the most appealing option in this market, though Avdija appears to have the inside track.

Prediction: Deni Avdija

NBA Most Improved Player Voting, 2024-25

Past NBA Most Improved Player Winners