2022 NBA Most Improved Player Predictions, Betting Odds, Picks

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• Check out our predictions for who will win the 2022 NBA Most Improved Player Award!
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With the NBA season back to an 82-game schedule, we are getting to see the full potential of the league’s players. We’ve seen some stellar jumps in play from some players, who are all in consideration for the Most Improved Player award!

2022 NBA Most Improved Player Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook

Every year the NBA’s Most Improved Player award is presented to a player who has shown an exceptional growth over one season. The NBA hopes to present the award at the annual NBA Awards show, which has been cancelled for the past two seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Most Improved Player award is usually an indicator of the potential of one of the league’s more overlooked players. Many have gone on to build their career after winning the award, becoming All-Stars, NBA Champions, and even Hall of Famers!

Let’s answer some of the most important questions about the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

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Who is the Favorite to Win NBA Most Improved Player in 2022?

(G) Ja Morant – 6-3, 174 lb (190 cm, 78 kg) – United States

Stop it, @JaMorant pic.twitter.com/ddFsklYXju

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 21, 2022

Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant is the clear frontrunner to be the NBA’s Most Improved Player for 2022. After a stellar rookie campaign, Morant seems to have made the jump from prospect to superstar.

Despite having to take on more responsibility due to a change of personnel and injuries, Morant has thrived. After averaging just 19.1 points per game in his sophomore season, Morant has averaged 26.8 points, 6.9 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game through the first phase of the 2021-2022 season.

Morant’s personal success, combined with the fact that he’s led the Grizzlies to third in the West after 50 games, makes him a near shoe-in for the Most Improved Player award. Barring a drastic drop in form through the last phase of the season, Morant should be adding another award to his trophy cabinet.

Who Was the 2021 NBA Most Improved Player?

Relive Kia Most Improved Player Julius Randle’s fantastic season for the Knicks! #KiaMIP @nyknicks look to even the series 1-1 with a Game 2 win vs. Atlanta tonight at 7:30pm/et on TNT. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/x11Sd7L0D4

— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2021

Julius Randle of the New York Knicks won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2021. After a career where Randle was figured to never meet his potential, Randle led the Knicks to the 2021 Playoffs with the best season of his career.

Randle was an all-around threat in his Most Improved Player winning season. He averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 71 games with the New York Knicks.

The NBA’s voting panel almost unanimously voted Randle in as Most Improved Player of the Year. He accumulated 98.0 of a possible 100 first place votes, with Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant coming in second with 2.0 first place votes.

When Will the NBA Most Improved Player be Announced?

The winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award is expected to be announced following the conclusion of the NBA Finals, at the annual NBA Awards. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the last two NBA Awards shows were cancelled.

Prior to the introduction of the NBA Awards, the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award was given at the end of the NBA’s regular season. The award ceremony tended to take place on an off day during the NBA Playoffs, or prior to a game that they were participating in.

NBA Most Improved Player by Year

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Does the NBA Most Improved Player Receive A Prize?

The winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player does not receive a prize per se. In commemoration of their accomplishment, the award winner is written into NBA history as one of its most notable players.

The Most Improved Player Award tends to signal the growth of a player and who to expect more from as their career moves forward.

Have Any Most Improved Player Winners Become All-Stars?

There have been 19 Most Improved Player winners who have gone on to become NBA All-Stars. Alvin Robertson, Dana Barros, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, Danny Granger, Kevin Love, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle won the award and became an All-Star in the same season.

Dale Ellis, Kevin Duckworth, Kevin Johnson, Gilbert Arenas, Zach Randolph, Goran Dragic, and Pascal Siakam went on to become All-Stars in subsequent seasons after winning the award.

Boris Diaw, Kevin Love, Pascal Siakam, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only winners who went on to become NBA Champions!

Tracy McGrady is the only Most Improved Player winner to be named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame!

Is the NBA Most Improved Player Determined by Fan Vote?

The NBA Most Improved Player Award is determined by a panel of sportswriters across the United States and Canada. Each panel member is allowed a first-, second-, and third-place vote worth 5, 3, and 1 points respectively. The player with the highest point total wins the award.

Has There Ever Been a Unanimous Most Improved Player?

There has never been a unanimous winner of the Most Improved Player award. Victor Oladipo and Julius Randle are the closest to having been named unanimous winners, earning 99 and 98 first place votes respectively.

Have There Ever Been Joint Most Improved Player Winners?

There have never been joint Most Improved Player winners, nor have any players won the award multiple times.

Has an International Player Ever Won Most Improved Player?

👀 PASCAL SIAKAM’s 2018/19 Most Improved Player highlights! 🌶 pic.twitter.com/h9gNpBYa3l

— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) June 25, 2019

By nature of the NBA being an American league, the United States have dominated the Most Improved Player award. However, there have been six different non-American winners of the Most Improved Player award.

• Pascal Siakam – Cameroon (2019)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo – Greece (2017)
• Goran Dragic – Slovenia (2014)
• Hedo Turkoglu – Turkey (2008)
• Boris Diaw – France (2006)
• Gheroghe Muresan – Romania (1996)

Who Won the First NBA Most Improved Player Award?

“He would make your life miserable. He’s who I modeled my defense after.” – G. Payton

Alvin Robertson turns 58. DPOY, 4 x All-Star & one of the toughest defenders in NBA history

20 PTS, 11 REB, 10 AST, 10 STL
30 PTS, 10 STL, 6 AST
20 PTS, 10 STL, 7 AST
16 PTS, 10 STL, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/yRQ01QiwDc

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 23, 2020

The first ever winner of the Most Improved Player Award was Alvin Robertson of the San Antonio Spurs. In just his second season, Robertson went on to average 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 steals per game after playing in all 82 games.

Robertson went on to become the 1986 Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Defensive Team member, a four-time All-Star, and three-time steals champion.

Which Position Has Won the Most Most Improved Player Awards?

Guard (13)

Guards tend to have a great impact on the game, but the speed of the NBA tends to keep players from making an immediate impact.

Playmakers and defenders like Scott Skiles and Alvin Robertson just needed a few years to find their comfort and impact. However, pure scorers like Gilbert Arenas and Aaron Brooks needed to hone their skills as well as find the right fit for their game.

Forward (18)

The forward position has seen the most growth through the history of the NBA, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see so many winners of the Most Improved Player award.

Some players undergo an entire positional change like Boris Diaw and Giannis Antetokounmpo and almost reinvent their game. Others like Hedo Turkoglu and Pascal Siakam took a few years to realize their potential as unique talents.

Center (5)

Centers seem to be the least likely to win the Most Improved Player award. Through history they’ve been players dependent on their teammates to generate offence, especially if they don’t have immediate offensive talent.

There are rarely large jumps in skill or production amongst centers, but don’t count out the defensive and efficiency growth of centers as seen through Gheorghe Muresan and Kevin Duckworth.

Who is the Youngest Ever NBA Most Improved Player?

By nature of the Most Improved Player Award, the player pool for the award are at least in their sophomore season. Sometimes, one year is all it takes for a player to find their ground in the league.

In order, the five youngest winners of the Most Improved Player Award are:

Who is the Oldest Ever NBA Most Improved Player?

The Most Improved Player Award celebrates the work ethic of some of the NBA’s most notable players. Growth is not limited to age, as shown by a number of winners.

In order, the five oldest winners of the Most Improved Player Award are:

Which NBA Franchises Have Produced the Most NBA Most Improved Player Winners?