NBA Most Improved Player Odds 2025: Cunningham Massive Favorite Over Powell
There's a new betting favorite on the NBA Most Improved Player odds market with Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham leading the pack.
This marks the second time Cunningham is a minus-money favorite. He surrendered his claim to the award earlier in the year to Los Angeles' Norman Powell, who now sits third behind Cunningham and Miami's Tyler Herro. All three of the aforementioned stars have 10/1 odds or shorter, which will make for an interesting race down the stretch.
The Pistons' success is translating to award notoriety not only for Cunningham, but also for NBA Sixth Man of the Year odds candidate Malik Beasley. Read on for our latest NBA Most Improved Player odds and analysis.
📊 NBA Most Improved Player odds 2025
Live NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best sports betting sites.
🏆 NBA Most Improved Player odds favorites 2025
🐴 Cade Cunningham Most Improved Player odds (-500)
The former No. 1 pick has taken a noticeable leap in each of the last two years after missing most of his second season in the NBA with an injury. Last year, Cunningham was one of just five players in the league to average 20-plus points and 7.5-plus assists, and this season, he's been an even better facilitator and scorer.
The Oklahoma State product is one of just two players putting up 25-plus points and nine-plus assists per game, and he has the Pistons in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The unfortunate reality is he's such a large favorite (83.33% implied win probability) that his odds no longer have value.
Best odds: -500 via BetRivers | Implied probability: 83.33%
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👀 NBA Most Improved Player candidates to watch
⚓️ Norman Powell Most Improved Player odds (+1000)
Powell has gone back-and-forth with Cunningham atop the oddsboard this season for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. While the 10-year veteran is enjoying the best campaign of his career to date, he's begun to lose ground on the leaders.
An injury kept him out for five games post-All-Star break, which is a shame considering he dropped 41 in his final outing before the break. That performance put an exclamation mark on Powell's superb start, where he's established himself as one of the league's best beyond-the-arc shooters.
Unfortunately, his injury and Detroit's surge have led to the perfect storm to lift Cunningham above the crowd. Powell is worth a flier at these long odds if he returns in a full capacity shortly. Otherwise, the favorite looks to be a runaway winner.
Best odds: +1000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 9.09%
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💡 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 opening odds
- Victor Wembanyama: +1000
- Evan Mobley: +1000
- Jonathan Kuminga: +1400
- Scottie Barnes: +1600
- Josh Giddey: +1700
- Jalen Williams: +2000
- Cade Cunningham: +2000
- Jalen Johnson: +2200
- Immanuel Quickley: +2500
- Brandin Podziemski: +2500
🏅 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?
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is the betting favorite (-500 ) to win the 2025 NBA Most Improved Player Award. Those odds imply an 83.33% 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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