NBA Most Improved Player Odds & Predictions 2026: Deni Avdija Holds the Favorite Status

The NBA Most Improved Player (MIP) award is an annual honor given to a player who has made a significant leap in their performance and statistical production compared to previous seasons. Since 2023, the winner has been awarded the George Mikan Trophy, named after the Hall of Fame center whose "Mikan Drill" became a staple of basketball skill development.

The current reigning Most Improved Player is Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks, who won the 2024–25 award after leading the league in steals and increasing his scoring average by over eight points per game.

NBA Most Improved Player Odds

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Join FanDuel today and claim your welcome bonus: Bet $5, Get $100 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

Rest of the players listed at +6000 odds and higher.

NBA Most Improved Player - My Pick

Deni Avdija (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Deni Avdija is a compelling candidate for the NBA Most Improved Player award due to his meteoric statistical leap and expanded playmaking role during the 2025–26 season. After averaging 16.9 points and 3.9 assists in his first year with the Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija has evolved into a primary offensive engine, boosting his production to approximately 25.5 points and 6.7 assists per game.

This surge, fueled by a league-leading volume of drives and a significant increase in free-throw attempts, has placed him alongside elite company like Nikola Jokić as one of the few players maintaining 25-7-6 averages. By transforming from a versatile role player into a fringe All-Star and the focal point of Portland’s offense, Avdija perfectly embodies the award's spirit of "meteoric" career progression.

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How to Bet on the NBA Most Improved Player Award Winner

Betting on this season’s NBA Most Improved Player Award winner is a straightforward process. Start by visiting Caesars or your favorite sportsbook. Navigate to the NBA page, where there will be a tab labeled “Futures”. Look for the “Awards” category, and you will find the odds for this one.

We always recommend doing your homework before betting on NBA futures. That includes researching the bet, as well as ensuring you claim any available sportsbook bonuses. While those are usually for smaller bets, adding them can make a massive difference for your bankroll.

How to Read NBA Most Improved Player Award Odds

Reading the odds for the NBA Most Improved Player Award can be confusing, but we are here to help! Below, we’ll share our guide to reading odds before placing your bet. 

When reading odds from a sportsbook, you’ll see numbers with a (+) or (-) in front of them. The plus sign means that you will win the number after it when betting $100. If the number has a minus sign, you need to bet that amount to win $100. 

Online sportsbooks organize the betting favorites according to their odds, with the favorite listed at the top. This can help you determine who is still in the running, allowing you to decide which players to research before placing your bet.

Where to Bet on the NBA Most Improved Player Award Winner

The race to become the Most Improved Player Award can be unpredictable, especially given that there aren’t repeat winners. That puts the focus on young players and former stars returning from injury. This means there are always favorable odds heading into the season, giving bettors a great chance to win big.

We like to use Caesars Sportsbook when betting on the NBA Most Improved Player Award. The Vegas-based giant offers a world-class platform, competitive odds, and valuable promotions to help get the most bang for your buck. New users who sign up for a Caesars account with our promo code WSN250BM can claim: Bet Match up to $250 - Win or Lose.

If you're looking for a smaller platform, we recommend checking out bet365 Sportsbook. New customers who sign up with our promo code WSN365 can claim: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose. While bet365 is smaller than FanDuel or DraftKings, it offers one of the best betting experiences in the industry. 

NBA Most Improved Player Award History

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels won the award last season after an incredible season for the Atlanta Hawks. Every winner over the last ten years has gone on to a very successful NBA career, showing their success wasn’t a fluke. 

Below is a list of the NBA Most Improved Player Award from the previous ten seasons.