NBA Most Improved Player Odds (2026-27)

The following post features NBA Most Improved Player Odds (2026-27).

As the 2026–27 NBA season nears, oddsmakers have released their Most Improved Player odds, giving bettors a clearer look at this year’s top contenders for the award.

Read: NBA Coach of the Year Odds

Related: NBA Clutch Player of the Year Odds

The NBA Most Improved Player race highlights the players expected to make the biggest leap in impact, from promising young talents to veterans entering new situations.

So, how is the NBA Most Improved Player race shaping up for 2026-27? Here’s what you need to know.

NBA Most Improved Player Award Odds (2026-27)

Below is a table displaying the odds for the NBA Most Improved Player Award. All odds were sourced on Oct 17, 2026. Click here for the very latest odds (via OddsChecker).

Preseason Player Spotlights

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

The No. 2 overall pick in 2025 put together a strong rookie campaign in 2025-26, averaging 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.6 minutes while shooting 50.5% from the field and earning All-Rookie honors. Coming off the bench behind De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Harper showed advanced playmaking and scoring instincts that translated well in the playoffs. With an expanded role expected in Year 2 on a contending Spurs team, a jump into the mid-teens in scoring and increased minutes could put him squarely in the Most Improved conversation.

Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Miller averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30.3 minutes across 65 games in 2025-26 while shooting 38.3% from three. With LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges no longer in the picture, Charlotte’s offense is expected to run more heavily through the 23-year-old wing. A bump in usage and minutes toward the mid-30s range could push him into the mid-20s in scoring, giving him a clear path to a major statistical leap.

Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

The 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year took another step forward in 2025-26, posting career highs of 17.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 32.4 minutes while starting 50 games. With Jaylen Brown now in Philadelphia, Pritchard is positioned for an even larger offensive role behind Jayson Tatum and Paul George. Sustained starting minutes or continued high-volume production off the bench could deliver the kind of year-over-year jump voters reward.

Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

Thompson established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders in 2025-26, leading the NBA in steals (2.0 per game), earning All-Defensive First Team honors and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting while averaging 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has already signaled a heavier workload, and any growth as a scorer or playmaker on top of his elite two-way impact would represent significant improvement.

Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies

Limited to just 15 games in 2025-26 due to injuries, Jerome still averaged an impressive 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 threes in 22.6 minutes when healthy. With Ja Morant traded away, Jerome enters 2026-27 as a leading candidate to run the Grizzlies’ offense full-time. A healthy season with starter-level minutes could produce a massive statistical jump from his limited sample.

Kel’el Ware, Milwaukee Bucks

In his second season with Miami in 2025-26, Ware averaged 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 53% from the field and 39.5% from three. Now with the Bucks after an offseason trade, the 22-year-old big has a chance to step into a larger role alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Increased minutes and responsibility could push his production into the mid-teens in scoring and double-digit rebounds on a consistent basis.

NBA Most Improved Player Award Results (2025-26)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks won the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with 66 of 100 first-place votes and 396 total points, ahead of Detroit’s Jalen Duren (23 first-place votes, 254 points) and Portland’s Deni Avdija (seven first-place votes, 135 points); in his first season with the Hawks after leaving Minnesota, Alexander-Walker averaged career highs of 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 45.9% from the field and 39.9% from three, jumping 11.4 points per game from the prior year—the fifth such increase of 11 or more points in the last 35 seasons—and setting a franchise record with 251 threes as Atlanta became the first team to claim the award in consecutive years following Dyson Daniels in 2024-25.

NBA Most Improved Player Award

The NBA Most Improved Player (MIP) award, which grants the winner the George Mikan Trophy, is bestowed annually upon the player who achieves the most significant leap in performance compared to previous seasons. The winner is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters who vote based on a key criterion: recognizing an up-and-coming player who makes an unexpected, dramatic surge rather than rewarding normal career progression. This methodology heavily favors players who demonstrate a major statistical jump alongside a significant expansion or elevation of their role.

NBA Most Improved Player Award Winner (by Year)

Click here for the Most Improved Player Award Winner by year.