Top 5 Favorites For NBA Most Improved Player

There's a pretty strong favorite for Most Improved Player in the NBA this season, per the betting odds, and appropriately, it mirrors the favorite for Most Improved Team as well. Cade Cunningham, the top overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has finally reached the lofty status expected of him in 2024-25, and he's dragging his Detroit Pistons right along with him.

Cunningham's numbers are up across the board, and he's a -230 betting favorite per @BovadaOfficial to take home MIP.

Cade Cunningham is the heavy favorite to win Most Improved Player, per @BovadaOfficial

Cade Cunningham -230
Dyson Daniels +170
Tyler Herro +5500
Christian Braun +7500
Evan Mobley +10000 pic.twitter.com/0ZTz31av7z
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 24, 2025

Cunningham is putting up superstar numbers, with 25.7 PPG, 9.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds for the Pistons, who have improved themselves from the worst team in the NBA for the previous two seasons, to a 40-32 mark, and the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference.

By sheer stats, Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks would be the most improved player, as his point per game (13.9) average has soared by over eight points a night compared to last season, and he's doubled his steals output, leading the league in that category (3.1). He is the second favorite, and the only other player with a reasonable shot at the award, at +170.

The rest of the top 5 are miles behind, with Tyler Herro at +5500, Christian Braun at +7500 and Evan Mobley at +10,000.