Who Will Win NBA Most Improved Player? Five Names to Watch

Winning Most Improved Player takes more than putting together a few big nights. A larger role helps, but eventually, a player has to show he can handle the extra attention that comes with it. Defenses adjust pretty quickly when someone stops being a supporting piece and starts becoming a problem.

It's early in the season, so it can be hard to tell if a player's hot start is a fluke, or if they have truly taken the next step.

Past winners include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and Paul George, so this award has some pretty impressive company. Winning it can mark the point when a promising player becomes someone a franchise builds around. That’s what makes this race worth following: we could be watching the next star establish himself.

The best candidates have both room to grow and an opportunity to do it. That might mean taking over an offense, earning more minutes on a contender, or finally adding consistent scoring to an already strong defensive game.

Below are the leading candidates at DraftKings Sportsbook, along with our take on why their improvement could last beyond a hot start.

Jerome apparently decided that in his 8th season in the NBA, he would become elite. He scored 45 points on opening night and averaged nearly 30 points per game, helping Memphis open 5-0. That’s one way to introduce yourself as a full-time starting point guard.

Ja Morant’s departure gives Jerome a much clearer path to running the offense. He already proved he could be productive in a smaller role, becoming a Sixth Man of the Year finalist with Cleveland in 2025. Now, Memphis is allowing him to show how much more he can handle.

Obviously, expecting him to keep scoring like an MVP candidate is asking a lot. He doesn’t need to maintain that ridiculous pace to have a strong case, though. Becoming a reliable offensive leader over a full season would be a significant jump on its own.

It's rare to see a breakout of this extent, so late into a player's career. The Most Improved Player is usually a young guy making the jump, so that makes Jerome's case especially something to keep an eye on.

Mitchell’s path to a bigger role has become much clearer, unfortunately at his teammates’ expense. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace both face extended absences requiring surgery, leaving Oklahoma City with significant minutes and offensive responsibility to replace.

That allows Mitchell to become a more important creator alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s already shown what he can do with extra responsibility, scoring 30 points against Phoenix. His passing and defense also give the Thunder reasons to keep him on the floor when his shot isn’t falling.

This could be a sustained opportunity rather than a brief audition. Mitchell will face tougher defensive attention as his role grows, but he should have the minutes and touches to play through mistakes. If he helps keep Oklahoma City competitive while its injured players recover, he’ll have a strong Most Improved case.

Charlotte has made its commitment to Miller pretty clear, signing him to a five-year, $209 million extension after trading LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. The Hornets cleaned house this offseason, but made their feelings towards Miller very clear.

The opportunity is there for Miller to become the player Charlotte builds its offense around. He can score from outside and create difficult shots, but the next step is making the players around him better while becoming more efficient himself.

More attempts alone won’t make him the league’s most improved player. Defenses will spend plenty of time trying to force the ball out of his hands. If Miller handles that attention and grows into a dependable first option, his case becomes much stronger than simply having a higher scoring average.

Harper’s rookie season ended in the NBA Finals. Not a bad introduction to professional basketball.

Now, San Antonio is giving him a bigger opportunity. The Spurs have moved Harper into a starting lineup alongside De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, betting that their three guards can make it work together. This was a move that came after Harper expressed that he was not willing to come off the bench anymore.

Harper has the size and ability to attack the basket, create for teammates, and contribute without dominating every possession. Playing with Victor Wembanyama certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

The crowded backcourt remains the complication. However, Harper has shown he has what it takes to be the second option on this team.

Harper needs enough responsibility to make a noticeable leap, and second-year improvement can be easier for voters to view as expected development. Still, if his growth helps San Antonio become an even tougher playoff opponent, he’ll have a compelling argument.

McDaniels has already built his reputation on making life difficult for opposing scorers. The next step is making them work harder at the other end, too.

Minnesota has been encouraging that offensive growth. During preseason, Chris Finch praised his shot selection and said McDaniels was trusting that opportunities would keep coming rather than forcing attempts. That’s a promising foundation for someone looking to become more than a defensive specialist.

His move to full-time power forward also creates opportunities to contribute more around the basket and on the glass.

A sustained offensive leap would give McDaniels a different kind of case from the guards on this list. He doesn’t need to become Minnesota’s leading scorer. Becoming a dependable scoring threat while maintaining his defensive value would be a pretty meaningful upgrade.