NBA Most Improved Player Odds 2025: Victor Wembanyama Head & Shoulders Over Crowded Field
The NBA's Most Improved Player award is always a fun one to decipher, as 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 per usual, there are countless solid options in the running.
- Victor Wembanyama (+725) won the Rookie of the Year in a landslide, and only got better as the season progressed, making many wonder just how astronomical his ceiling may be
- Jalen Williams (+1000) is the other frontrunner after the late lottery pick in 2022 made significant strides between his rookie and sophomore seasons
- Josh Giddey (+1400) will receive much more usage after being shipped to the Chicago Bulls and away from Williams and 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 finally underway.
NBA Most Improved Player odds 2025
Live NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best NBA betting sites.
- Wembanyama has seen his odds surge from +1000 at the opener despite playing limited minutes in the preseason.
- Jalen Johnson will be expected to grow his role significantly as Trae Young's right hand man with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans.
- Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley will both be 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
Victor Wembanyama (+725)
There are two primary avenues to winning this award: you can progress from relative obscurity to a meaningful role, or you can make the leap from impact player to bona fide star.
We've seen the latter gain steam among voters in recent years, and that's clearly what oddsmakers have in mind installing Wembanyama as the favorite. That said, Wembanyama set the bar unfathomably high as a rookie, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and an NBA-leading 3.6 blocks per game. The question is, how much better would Wembanyama have to fare than those already absurd numbers to take home this award?
Sure, future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul will make life easier for Wembanyama to get the ball in his spots, but Wembanyama would need to tally at least 25 points per game while somehow raising his other lofty counting stats to be considered. His efficiency is sure to rise, but the Most Improved Player award is traditionally heavily swayed to per game numbers.
There's even a case to be made that a more realistic, and profitable, option to wager on Wembanyama would be his MVP odds, which currently sit at +2000 via BetMGM.
Best odds: +725 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 12.12%
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My NBA Most Improved Player candidate to watch
Jonathan Kuminga (+1400 via BetMGM)
Stephen Curry desperately needs a sidekick on the Golden State Warriors with longtime Splash Brother Klay Thompson moving over to the Dallas Mavericks. Already an ultra-talented scorer with an expected surge in usage this season, Kuminga could be the perfect pairing.
Despite sitting just seventh amongst Warriors in minutes per game last season, Kuminga was third in points per game at 16.1. More notably, his numbers soared to 21.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 55.7% shooting in the 20 games where he played at least 30 minutes. If he starts to see that type of court time consistently, those stats may be a baseline for what he could accomplish this season.
In his smaller sample size, Kuminga ranked No. 60 league wide in usage. For context, that was one spot below his teammate Thompson, and in the same direct range of Tyrese Haliburton and Jimmy Butler. For a player that's never shot below 51% from the field across any of his three NBA seasons, the added minutes should directly correlate to success.
Odds-wise, Kuminga is far from a long shot, being tied for the third-best odds to win the award alongside Josh Giddey and Jalen Johnson. However, the two players slotted above him, Wembanyama and Jalen Williams, are already bona fide stars in the NBA, making the threshold for a rise in statistics much lower for Kuminga.
Best odds: +1800 via FanDuel| Implied probability: 5.26%
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 BetMGM)
| Player | Opening odds (Aug. 15, 2024) | Oct. 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | +1000 | +725 |
| Evan Mobley | +1000 | +1600 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | +1400 | +1400 |
| Scottie Barnes | +1600 | +3000 |
| Josh Giddey | +1700 | +1400 |
| Jalen Williams | +2000 | +1000 |
| Cade Cunningham | +2000 | +3000 |
| Jalen Johnson | +2200 | +1400 |
| Immanuel Quickley | +2500 | +3000 |
| Brandin Podziemski | +2500 | +4000 |
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?
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is the betting favorite (+725) to win the 2025 NBA Most Improved Player Award. Those odds imply a 9.09% 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.
NBA betting odds pages
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