The 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player odds feature a slew of good players, and some are already very good. But who is being tipped to go to the next level in their NBA career?
I analyze these NBA MIP odds and break down the favorites, along with a couple of sleepers to watch out for. Keep reading until the end of this article for my best bet for the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2024-25 season.
2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player Odds
The NBA MIP betting odds below are courtesy of Bovada:
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | +750 |
| Evan Mobley | +1000 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +1000 |
| Josh Giddey | +1100 |
| Jalen Johnson | +1300 |
| Paolo Banchero | +1500 |
| Immanuel Quickley | +2000 |
| Jalen Green | +2000 |
| Brandin Podziemski | +2200 |
| Jalen Williams | +2200 |
| Cade Cunningham | +2500 |
| Scottie Barnes | +2500 |
Odds for the NBA Most Improved Player Award are tough to gauge, but let’s consider last year’s winner. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey took home the award, jumping from 20.3 points and 3.5 assists to 25.9 points and 6.2 assists for the 76ers. Maxey was also named to the All-Star Game for the first time, in his fourth season.
All the players on this list can make that jump, starting with Victor Wembanyama (+750), who might have the most hype of any young player since LeBron James came into the league. Evan Mobley (+1000) and Jonathan Kuminga (+1000) both have All-Star potential, while Paolo Banchero (+1500) and Scottie Barnes (+2500) have both already been named All-Stars.
However, there are some intriguing players in these NBA MIP odds. Brandin Podziemski (+2200) is set for a larger role in Golden State. Jalen Green (+2000) will be counted on to take a step forward in Houston, the same goes for Jalen Johnson (+1300) in Atlanta. I break down all likely winners next, so let’s talk about them.
Our odds for NBA Most Improved Player come from Bovada, and you can find them by heading to Sports > Basketball > NBA Awards and League Leaders > Most Improved Player.
Favorites for NBA Most Improved Player
Let’s kick things off with the favorites in the 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player odds, starting with a player who is set to become a massive star in the league.
Victor Wembanyama (+750)
There is no player more poised in the NBA to take a big leap than Victor Wembanyama, the reigning Rookie of the Year. “Wemby” got off to a slow start, as most rookies do. He grew more confident after the All-Star Break, increasing his numbers in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
Wembanyama ended the season averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He also added 1.2 steals, and led the league with an outstanding 3.4 blocks. This was all done in 29.7 minutes per game!
Wembanyama also had some words for his opponents after France fell to the United States in the gold-medal game at the Olympics.
Victor Wembanyama after winning a silver medal: “I’m learning, and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years.”
Reporter: “In FIBA or the NBA?”
Wemby: “Everywhere.”
(via @mikefinger) pic.twitter.com/YuXnnc6VAW
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 10, 2024
San Antonio also made a couple moves that should help Wembanyama improve. Harrison Barnes came over from Sacramento in a three-way trade that landed former Spur DeMar DeRozan with the Kings. The Spurs also signed Chris Paul in free agency.
Wembanyama finally has a point guard that can get him the ball, and while Paul is well past his prime, he still knows how to run a team. The Spurs now have capable veterans around Wembanyama. Of course, head coach Gregg Popovich is still on the sidelines, too.
“Wemby” is already leading the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds. As he improves offensively, the sky is the limit for the 20-year-old Frenchman.
Evan Mobley (+1000)
Evan Mobley battled injuries in the 2023-24 season and still averaged 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds in 50 games. The health issues didn’t scare off the Cavaliers, who re-signed Mobley to a five-year, $224 million extension this summer.
Cleveland Cavaliers F/C Evan Mobley has agreed on a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie contract extension that could become worth as much as $269 million, Joe Smith and Thad Foucher of @wassbasketball tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/sHu5KSb8aM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 21, 2024
Mobley just turned 23 in June and has a high ceiling. He is already a good defender, and can switch out on perimeter players. It’s on the offensive end where Mobley needs to take a leap forward. He shot 37.3% from three-point land, but only attempted 1.2 per game. The Cavaliers also re-signed Jarrett Allen to an extension, and he’s not going to stretch the floor.
Therefore, the onus is on Mobley to shoot more from outside, but also, he has to make them. If Mobley can boost his scoring average to 22–23 points a night, and show he can stretch the floor, he’ll be a popular candidate in these NBA MIP odds.
Jonathan Kuminga (+1000)
Jonathan Kuminga has had an interesting start to his NBA career in Golden State. Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t seem to trust him in his first two years, but Kuminga broke out last season. The 21-year-old averaged 16.1 points in 26.4 minutes, adding 4.8 rebounds.
He also shot 52.9% from the field, and adds an injection of athleticism to a team that definitely needs it. Kuminga is also looking to get an extension from the Warriors.
Jonathan Kuminga has expressed a desire in the past to remain with the Warriors long term but his fourth-year role is unclear heading into camp.
Golden State isn't currently prepared to give Kuminga a max extension, league sources tell @anthonyVslater ⤵️https://t.co/pIz0DA9jmb pic.twitter.com/Pz4PyIL1tz
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) September 12, 2024
The youngster is also improving defensively and has the body and athleticism to be fantastic on that end, but he sometimes has lapses in focus.
Offensively, Kuminga has to improve from three-point range, where he shot 32.1% last season. The Warriors will have more shots available with Klay Thompson off to Dallas. Kuminga has to take advantage of these opportunities to win the MIP award.
Josh Giddey (+1100)
Josh Giddey had an awful 2023-24 season. He had some off-court issues that he was absolved of. On the court, Giddey was never comfortable in Oklahoma City, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had the ball the majority of the time.
There was also the emergence of Jalen Williams (more on him soon) and Chet Holmgren. But Giddey reminded people, while leading Australia at the Olympics, how good he is when he has the ball in his hands.
Josh Giddey looked confident making plays against Team USA 👏
17 points | 8 rebounds | 7 assists pic.twitter.com/9OPvz0gkR9
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 15, 2024
Giddey’s numbers dropped across the board, but he’s a player who needs to have the ball in his hands a lot. He’ll get that opportunity after he was traded to Chicago for Alex Caruso. The Bulls also traded DeRozan, it seems like they’re looking to trade Zach LaVine, and Lonzo Ball will allegedly return sometime this season, but no one knows when.
This is the best possible situation for Giddey, who still can’t shoot the ball well. However, he can get to the basket and get his teammates involved. After a terrible season, Giddey can have a big campaign in 2024-25.
NBA Most Improved Player Odds – Dark Horses
Next, I have a couple dark horses for you in these NBA MIP odds that you should consider. They have a ton of betting value worth checking out at NBA betting sites.
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Jalen Williams finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting last season, jumping from 14.1 points to 19.1 points. He also improved his shooting splits across the board, and increased his assists. Williams is also an excellent defender that the Thunder felt comfortable putting on the opposition’s best perimeter player.
Williams struggled a little in the postseason, but it was his first time there. He’ll get more chances to prove himself in the playoffs. The Thunder are favored to come out of the Western Conference this season.
If Williams takes a similar jump to the progress he made last season, Oklahoma City will have a great chance to emerge from the West.
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The Toronto Raptors went into rebuild mode last season, trading Pascal Siakam to Indiana, and OG Anunoby to New York. They got some pieces back, notably, Immanuel Quickley from the Knicks (he has NBA MIP odds of +2000).
However, the centerpiece is Scottie Barnes, who had his third season cut short by injuries. Barnes still played 60 games, averaging 19.9 points 8.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. The Raptors rewarded him with a five-year, $224 million extension during the offseason. That could go up to $270 million!
Barnes can do it all, although his defense has regressed after coming out of college known for his work on that end of the floor. However, his offensive load will increase, and if Barnes can get his numbers up even more, his Most Improved Player NBA odds provide some real betting value!
NBA Most Improved Player Betting Pick and Prediction
All these players are worthy of their NBA Most Improved Player odds in 2024-25. But I can’t look past Victor Wembanyama. He won Rookie of the Year last season and was second to French teammate Rudy Gobert in Defensive Player of the Year. “Wemby” is the DPOY favorite this season and should be for the next decade.
If he stays healthy, the 7’5” Spur should not only be an All-Star next season, but there is a very good chance he winds up on an All-NBA team at the end of the campaign. There was a lot of hype on Wembanyama coming into his first season, and he exceeded that. Dare I say, Wembanyama could get love in the NBA MVP odds in his second season!
With an actual point guard on his team now, there is truly no telling how good he can be. You’re not going to get better MIP NBA odds on Wembanyama than you will now, so I advise you jump on these lines quickly at Bovada!
