NBA Most Improved Player Odds 2025: Wagner Atop Crowded Field
The NBA's Most Improved Player Award is always a fun one to decipher.
It forces bettors to play a game of projection, looking at roles and skill sets to determine which young player is most likely to pop in a way they've yet to in their NBA career. As usual, there are countless solid options in the running.
- Franz Wagner is the front-runner thanks to his outstanding play while leading the Orlando Magic with Paolo Banchero out
- Victor Wembanyama won the Rookie of the Year Award in a landslide last year, leading many to project him for this award, but he's fallen far down
- Jalen Williams has been putting together an excellent start to the campaign alongside NBA MVP odds candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City.
With that in mind, we take a look at the latest NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best sports betting sites with the season moving along.
NBA Most Improved Player odds 2025
Live NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best NBA betting sites.
- Jalen Johnson was expected to grow his role significantly as Trae Young's right-hand man with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans. He's performing well in Atlanta, as is Dyson Daniels
- RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Gradey Dick have all been prominently featured members of the Toronto Raptors, who have slowly moved on from all of their productive veteran players over the last calendar year
NBA Most Improved Player favorite 2025
Franz Wagner (+370)
Wagner was playing fine throughout the first five games of the season while averaging 17.8 points per game. Then star forward Paolo Banchero went down with an injury, and Wagner exploded.
He's been averaging 25.1 points per game on 45.7% shooting ever since, all while pushing his way into the top spot for the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed Orlando Magic.
While the Magic are an excellent defensive team, they lack a plethora of elite offensive options. With Banchero out, Wagner has been taking over the clear lead role. His scoring is up 3.6 points from last season, and he's shooting far better from long range than his 28.1% clip last campaign. He's also improved on his rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
The obvious flaw in his candidacy is Banchero will soon return to the lineup, which will likely relegate Wagner back to the Magic's second option. How much that forces a dip in his scoring will likely determine whether Wagner stays in the running for this award. There's also a case to be made that the German's assist tally will climb up even higher than his current career-best mark of 5.7 a game.
Either way, with Wagner getting the significantly shortest odds and a $10 bet earning a bettor just $37, it may be worth looking for an option whose role is projected to remain more consistent throughout the year.
Best odds: +370 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 21.28%
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My NBA Most Improved Player candidate to watch
Norman Powell (+2500)
It feels reasonable to go against the aforementioned advice regarding a player's role when Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers are involved. Would it be a surprise if Leonard doesn't suit up at all this season?
Even if he does, it may not be for quite some time. That leaves the door wide open for electric scorer Norman Powell to claim the Most Improved Player Award. The 31-year-old is much older than the typical winner for this award while working as the leading scorer for the Clippers, but it may be too hard to ignore his notable case
Powell's scoring has soared from 13.9 points per game last season to 23.3 this year, and he's shooting nearly 49% from 3-point range on eight attempts per outing. His assists have doubled from last year as well.
Despite those lofty numbers and improvements from the year prior, Powell sits just sixth on the oddsboard for the Most Improved Player Award right now. Again, his age is unconventional, and Leonard could come back and be his dominant self.
But on a wager of $10 that would return $250, that scenario seems unlikely enough to be worth considering a bet.
Best odds: +2500 via ESPNBet | Implied probability: 3.85%
How to bet on NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award
Betting on NBA Most Improved Player odds is straightforward. First, pick a reputable sportsbook offering NBA awards futures. Check the odds for various players; for instance, if Player A has +300 odds and Player B has +700, Player A is favored to win.
Place your bet by deciding how much to wager. If you bet $100 on Player A at +300 and they win, you’ll get $400 back ($100 stake + $300 profit). Keep an eye on player performances throughout the season to gauge your bet’s potential.
Now, why do odds move in future markets? It’s all about performance and perception. If a player performs exceptionally well or poorly, their odds will shift. Injuries to the player or their competitors can also significantly impact their chances of winning this award, as can changing expectations of players' improvement levels.
The success of the player’s team can improve their odds as well. Public betting trends play a role; if many people are betting on one player, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to balance their risk. Expert analysis and predictions can also influence how people bet, affecting the odds. Understanding these factors helps you make informed bets and potentially take advantage of favorable odds movements.
How to read NBA awards odds
Reading NBA awards odds involves understanding the implied probability and potential payouts associated with each player's odds of winning the award. NBA odds are typically presented in American odds.
These use plus and minus symbols to indicate underdogs and favorites, respectively. For instance, if a player's odds are +500, a $100 bet would result in a $500 profit if the player wins, while odds of -200 would mean that a $200 bet is required to win $100 in profit.
When reading NBA awards odds, lower odds indicate that a player has a higher probability of winning the award, while higher odds suggest that a player is considered less likely to win. Bettors should consider factors such as a player's performance, team success, and narrative appeal when evaluating these odds.
It's also important to compare odds across different sportsbooks to identify the best value bets. Additionally, bettors should keep in mind that odds can fluctuate throughout the season based on player performance, injuries, and other factors, so staying informed and monitoring odds changes can be crucial for making informed betting decisions.
NBA Most Improved Player odds over time
(Latest odds via our best sports betting sites)
| Player | Opening odds (Aug. 15, 2024) | Oct. 22 | Nov. 28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | +1000 | +725 | +4000 |
| Evan Mobley | +1000 | +1600 | +4000 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +1400 | +1400 | +15000 |
| Scottie Barnes | +1600 | +3000 | +10000 |
| Josh Giddey | +1700 | +1400 | +15000 |
| Jalen Williams | +2000 | +1000 | +600 |
| Cade Cunningham | +2000 | +3000 | +2800 |
| Jalen Johnson | +2200 | +1400 | +1000 |
| Immanuel Quickley | +2500 | +3000 | OFF |
| Brandin Podziemski | +2500 | +4000 | +15000 |
Past NBA Most Improved Player winners
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2023 | Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz |
| 2022 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2021 | Julius Randle | New York Knicks |
| 2020 | Brandon Ingram | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2019 | Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors |
| 2018 | Victor Oladipo | Indiana Pacers |
| 2017 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2016 | CJ McCollum | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2015 | Jimmy Butler | Chicago Bulls |
NBA Most Improved Player FAQs
Who is the NBA Most Improved Player favorite?
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner is the betting favorite (+370) to win the 2025 NBA Most Improved Player Award. Those odds imply a 21.28% probability that he'll win the award, according to our odds calculator.
Who won NBA Most Improved Player last year?
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey won the NBA Most Improved Player award following the 2023-24 NBA season. He averaged 25.9 points and helped keep the Sixers' playoff hopes alive after the injury to former MVP winner Joel Embiid.
When will NBA Most Improved Player be decided next year?
With the 2023-24 award announced on Tuesday, April 23 during the NBA playoffs, we can expect next year's award to be decided at a similar time.
How is the Most Improved Player determined?
The winner of NBA Most Improved Player is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States and Canada. Writers vote for first, second, and third place, and each placing is worth points.
The player with the most total points is crowned the winner.
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